Chances are if you’re on our site you’ve seen a bat face to face within the four walls of your home or historic office building. It should come as no surprise that this has more than likely been a traumatizing experience for you. One of the best ways I have found to overcome fear is to know that which you are afraid of. In the case of bats here in Western NY that almost always is an encounter with a little brown bat (Myotis lucifigus). Though Big browns are around, and I have encountered a silver haired bat in Brighton NY, and one in a old city home on Englewood in Buffalo NY (14214). The most common by far is the little brown. Circling your hallway ceiling fan this bat looks scary. Hanging from your curtain it looks downright terrifying. However, lets just momentarily look at what it is that makes your skin crawl. The little brown bat weighs in at a whopping 7-10 g (0.3-0.4 oz). This isn’t exactly the stuff of nightmares is it? So, why does it look so big? Honestly, for such a tiny animal it has a very impressive wing span of 8-10 inches. This looks pretty big in your living quarters. The good news is at less than half an ounce that tennis racquet you just hit it with was absolutely overkill.
Ok, so we briefly explained why is a bat flying in or out of your building scaring the secretary or your soon to be ex-roommate (no shame if it’s your boyfriend hiding under the table as you read this). Bats are very, very sensitive to climate changes and air currents. They are also very adept at finding every crack and crevice of a building they live in. Because of this when we have had a streak of cold nights and we have a warm night they head towards your air conditioned room. Or vice versa when its been warm and the first cool night you kept the AC off. This can be confusing to your co-habitating insectivores. They end up inside the building instead of outside where they wanted to be.
So, what do you do with your new found intruder? There are a lot of factors to consider when dealing with a bat in your home. Where you sleeping when it was discovered? Where children exposed? Did an employee come in direct contact with the bat? When there is potential or unknown exposure to a bat the best practice is to capture the bat (or have someone else) alive and have it tested for rabies. A living specimen is essential for testing as the rabies virus only lives approximately 20 minutes outside of a living host.
As far as risk of rabies contraction from bats the reality has two sides. I one side is the reality that you can easily wake up in the dead of night and have a bat hanging in the lamp shade you just touched, or flying around your entryway. This means exposure to the bat can be quite common and easily possible. The flip side of this statement in Western NY (Buffalo, Rochester,Batavia, Lockport, and Niagara Falls) bats are about 2-3 percent infected. This makes the reality of the bat in your building less likely to have rabies than you may think. Natiowide the CDC states Raccoons have a rate of 30.2 % rabies, followed by bats at 29.1, skunks at 26.3, and fox at 4.1% ( http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/surveillance/wild_animals.html ).
Young bats in the Micro climate of Western NY begin flying the second week of July so be ready for it. The most likely reason to have a bat inside your home is when a young adventurous bat slips in on its first several weeks of flight.
Bats are what we specialize in. Whether its your home or business we have the knowledge and skill to correct the problem. We offer a three year warranty on our work (western NY’s best warranty) , as well as experience working with historic buildings (slate and terra cotta roof specialists on staff), warehouses, sport complexes, and any large open area. Our staff can handle the tiniest job, all the way to the largest cathedral or stadium. We are from Western NY. Locally owned and operated. With Family in Buffalo, Rochester, Lyons, Geneva, Jamestown, Fredonia, Lima, Lockport, Hornell, and East Aurora. We know the area better than anyone and strive to keep Western New Yorks Homes and businesses bat free. Give us a call today at 585-206-7570 or 716-406-8808.
