2 Zoonotic Bat Diseases That Can Be Spread to Humans and Pets

When it comes to bats around the house or in the attic, you do not want to waste any time getting rid of them. Bats are known carriers of several infectious zoonotic diseases, two of which are very serious, and unfortunately, very common as well. And as known carriers, they are also capable of transmitting these diseases to both people and pets, such as cats and dogs. This is just one reason why pet vaccinations are so vital to the overall health and protection of your animals and your loved ones.

These two zoonotic diseases described above are Rabies and Histoplasmosis. Continue reading to learn more about each illness, and what you can do to get rid of nuisance bats in your Tennessee home or property.

Bat Removal and Control Nashville Tennessee 615-337-9165
Bat Removal and Control in Tennessee 615-337-9165

Most Common Transmissible Bat Diseases:

☣► Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is an infection of the lungs and respiratory system. It is caused by the development of Histoplasma capsulatum fungus on bat droppings, also known as guano. It can also grow on bird droppings. The fungus produces mold spores that become airborne, either from wind, construction, or a property’s interior air duct system. Upon inhalation, the spores can enter a person’s respiratory system and cause flu-like symptoms. And if not treated properly, a person can become very ill. When a person is mildly affected by Histoplasmosis spores, it is possible for them to never experience any symptoms.

However, in cases of long-term or close-up exposure, symptoms can develop within 3 to 17 days, depending on the severity of exposure. Serious cases of Histoplasmosis can be life-threatening to those with weakened or suppressed immune systems, as well as the elderly and young children. Common symptoms of Histoplasmosis infection are similar to the flu, while severe cases are more similar to tuberculosis. Typical symptoms for mild cases may include all or a combination of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, dry cough, chest discomfort, lethargy, joint pain, rash, and general malaise.

☣► Rabies

Rabies is a well-known and dangerous virus that is carried and transmitted via saliva and blood among several species of wildlife in Tennessee. Fox, coyotes, raccoons, bats, squirrels, and more are common carriers of the Rabies virus; but just because they are carriers does not mean they are infected. Unfortunately, the Rabies virus cannot be diagnosed until the symptoms are noticeable. But at this point, it is too late for the victim.

This viral disease is usually fatal in animals since it causes swelling and inflammation of the brain. This condition can cause infected animals to behave strangely and unpredictably, exhibiting violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, an inability to move parts of the body, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Annual pet vaccinations can protect curious dogs and cats from encountering a fatal rabies attack from an infected animal.

What You Need to Know About Rabies in Humans

As for humans, Rabies can be fatal unless treatment can be received before symptoms begin to appear, which usually takes 1 to 3 months. Only 6 people have survived a rabies infection after showing symptoms. For this reason, it is important to seek immediate treatment if you suspect that you had contact with an infected animal. Common signs and symptoms can include slight or partial paralysis, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, agitation, abnormal behavior, paranoia, terror, and hallucinations, progressing to delirium, and coma.

Nashville Tennessee Bat Removal and Control at Your Service

Call Budget Animal Removal at 615-337-9165 to get help with your bat removal and control needs in Nashville, Tennessee. Our TWRA licensed and insured wildlife control specialists that can deliver safe and long-lasting results at the most economical rates in town. Our teams serve both residential and commercial clients, and also offer several complimentary amenities, including free phone quotes, estimates, advice, and referrals.

Tennessee Wildlife Removal and Control 615-337-9165
Tennessee Wildlife Removal and Control 615-337-9165

Tips for Dead Animal Odor Removal

So, you discovered there was a dead animal, or animals, in your home and you have had them successfully removed. But for some reason, your home still smells as if they were still there. So, what do you do? You call a reputable Indianapolis wildlife control company for professional dead animal cleanup and restoration services. Your homeowners’ insurance might even cover all or part of the service!

Continue reading to learn why your home retains these foul odors left behind by a dead animal, and how a professional wildlife removal technician can remove them for good, and within budget.

Indianapolis Dead Animal Removal and Cleanup
Indianapolis Dead Animal Removal and Cleanup 317-875-3099

Dead Animals Leave Behind More Than Just Odors

Whether raccoons, bats, squirrels, chipmunks, or some other species of Indiana wildlife, there are many reasons why a home may still smell like the dead animal that was just removed. Sometimes, that smell can be described as rotting meat or sour garbage, but must worse. When an animal is living within a home, and then dies, simply removing the carcass is not enough if the animal spent more than a few days inside. In addition to a dead animal carcass, other remnants of their time there will cause smells to develop and linger.

For example, animal urine and droppings can accumulate to mass amounts in as little as a few hours. This causes an airborne odor that will pass through the home’s vents, ductwork, walls, and ceilings. In fact, if the urine and dropping accumulations are too massive, they can even seep through these areas and cause stains on ceilings and walls.

Furthermore, a dead animal carcass can also leave behind body oils that saturate and soak through areas of the home where the animal died. This can leave behind a strong, pungent odor just by itself. Aside from a carcass, other remnants of animals can cause smells to contaminate the home, such as decaying food leftovers and birthing debris.

Dead Animal Odor Removal Process

It is vital to your home and health to hire a professional wildlife control contractor to manage these problems and remedy them in a convenient time frame. They retain the proper training and experience to quickly identify foul animal odors, and the professional supplies to restore your space back to normal. Depending on the extent of damage, technicians commonly control and remove foul odors by applying counteractants, oxidizing agents, germicidal disinfectants, aerosol sprays, and foggers to complete the job. Best of all, most wildlife cleanup and restoration services are covered fully or partially by standard homeowners’ insurance policies.

Qualified Dead Animal Removal and Cleanup Service in Indianapolis, Indiana

Contact Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for fast and affordable dead animal removal and cleanup services in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a locally owned and operated Hoosier company founded on old-fashioned values of integrity and respect, you can feel confident that your property is in the hands of truly qualified professionals who are committed to superior customer support, as well as, the protection and preservation of Indiana’s astounding wildlife. Contact us at 317-875-3099 to speak directly with a friendly wildlife abatement specialist about your nuisance animal problems, today.

Budget Animal Removal

How to Identify a Bat Problem Around Your Property

Bats are magnificent mammals that serve a vital role in our local ecosystems. But sometimes, their innate behaviors and survival instincts cause problems around our properties. Everything from bat urine and droppings, to structural damage, health risks, threats, and more, are possible issues that arise from having heavy bat activity in or around your house.

Continue reading to learn how to identify the signs of bat activity to confirm whether or not you have a bat problem on your hands.

Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control 317-875-3099
Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control 317-875-3099

Benefits of Local Bat Populations

A few bats flying around at dusk are not a bad thing. Bats are highly important to us for many reasons, which is why we should support the local bat populations and preserve them the best we can. However, when you have too many bats handing around your property, there is a very high risk of them gaining access inside, which is where the major destruction and health issues can occur. But even if bats are not inside, they can still cause a wide range of problems for you; problems that are both unsafe and costly to repair.

Here are the most common signs that bats are becoming too heavily populated around your property, or have gained access inside:

☑ Bats in the Attic

If you have bats in the attic, the signs are hard to miss. Mostly, bats in the attic are discovered as a result of hearing strange noises every night. Another common sign is urine stains on walls and ceilings as a result of too much waste accumulation. It can saturate the attic insulation and seep through floorboards, causing brownish and yellow stains on drywall. Along with waste stains comes odors, which is another common sign that you have bats around the house.

☑ Lingering Odors

As just mentioned, when bats inside or outside the house hang out for too long, their urine and droppings will begin to accumulate in mass quantities. As a result, you can smell the ammonia and other foul smells radiating from any areas where this accumulation exists. Common places include attics, wall voids, windowsills, door frames, roof edging, awnings, and archways. This brings us to our next sign.

☑ Guano

Bat droppings are also known as guano, which can be a tell-tale sign of bat activity around your house. Bats hang out in areas that have light, since light attracts insects, but also in areas that are safe, dark, and cozy. These areas are where you will find piles of guano, which looks much like rodent droppings. Along with guano, bat urine marks are often found on sides of buildings and homes. These streaks also smell, which is mentioned above.

How to Get Rid of Bats

So, you found some bats during spring cleaning? No problem. Just contact a local Indianapolis wildlife control company for emergency bat removal services you can trust. For further help, see our blog, “Where to Get Affordable Animal Damage Cleanup and Restoration in Indianapolis” if bats or other types of wildlife have damaged your property.

Safe Bat Removal and Control in Indianapolis

Call Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for fast and affordable removal and control for bats in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding areas. Our DNR licensed and insured wildlife rescue and control specialists offer nuisance wildlife abatement services, cleanup and minor restorations for animal damages, 24 hour emergency service, free estimates, and much more! Get started by requesting a free estimate or advice, today.

Budget Animal Removal

The Most Threatened Bat Species in Indiana

The Indiana Bat is a special species that is protected under federal and state law. The Indiana Bat first became protected by the Endangered Species Act in 1967. Their decline in population was the first sign that these creatures needed help surviving. Their population decline was a result of human interference in caves, toxic pesticides, and destroyed habitats.  It was a sorrowful downhill journey that pushed these mammals into protection. 

Continue reading to learn more facts surrounding this incredible species of bat, including what you can do to safely support and control local bat populations in your community.

Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control
Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control 317-875-3099

The Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis)

There are many things you might be surprised to know about the Indiana bat.  For example, it weighs about as much as three pennies.  It is very tiny, about the size of a man’s’ thumb.  They are usually covered in a short brown fur.  They live a long time, up to 15 years, females only giving birth once a year.  From May to June each year is when the bat breeding season kicks in.  This is the time in which bats close to residential areas will search for shelters in attics, crawl spaces, and roof tops.  Female colonies form, breeding one pup each.  They will feed and raise their young until they are strong enough to survive on their own.   

Good for the Environment and the Economy

Bats, for the most part, are wrongly stereotyped and misunderstood. People are afraid bats carry diseases and will fly in your hair and attack you; all of which is untrue. Bats avoid humans as much as possible.  They keep to themselves and focus on feeding and breeding their young. Bats contribute in a lot of positive ways that many are unaware of; they deserve more credit than they get. For example, bats consume an enormous amount of insects on a daily basis.

They often eat more than their own body weight, up to 1000 mosquitos, moths, and flies per hour. This keeps bugs of our porches and backyards at night, especially for those who live close to water. Bats are a crucial component to our ecosystem and environment. More and more colonies of Indiana Bats are being discovered and managed year round.  Hopefully, one day, we can see them removed from the Endangered Species List. 

How to Safely Control Nuisance Bats in Indiana

Call Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for safe and humane, non-lethal bat removal and control in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding areas. Our DNR licensed and insured wildlife rescue and control specialists offer nuisance wildlife abatement services, cleanup and minor restorations for animal damages, 24 hour emergency service, free estimates, and much more! Get started by requesting a free estimate or advice, today.

Educational and Fun Facts about Bats

Bats are among the most misunderstood creatures across the world.  It may be because they hang upside down, or have long pointy teeth; or perhaps it’s the correlation with Dracula and vampires that have given bats their unfair stereotype.  Rumors of rabies and disease alter people’s perception of this actually incredible and interesting mammal.  If this has been your past perception, than maybe this article can change your mind! 

Continue reading to learn some of the most interesting and fun facts about bats, including what you can do if they ever become a nuisance around your home or building.

Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control 317-875-3099
Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control 317-875-3099

🦇 Bats Are the Only Mammal Capable of True Flight.

Many people do not realize that bats are in fact, mammals. On top of that, they are the ONLY mammals on Earth that can actually fly (like a bird, not a squirrel).  They have wings similar to the anatomy of a human hand, with elongated fingers connected by a stretchy membrane.  They are amazing during flight.  They are fast and swift, using propulsion to push forward using their airfoil thin wings.

🦇 A Bat Can Consume Over 1000 Small Insects in One Hour.

Bats have insatiable appetites and can eat up to 200 tons of insects each night.  That is an average of 1,000 flying insects per hour. Not only is that a lot of feeding, it is excellent pest control for farmers and outdoor lovers, alike!

🦇 Echolocation is a Bio-Sonar System Bats use to Navigate Surroundings and Hunt for Prey

Bats are not blind, but they do not have great vision, especially in the dark.  But in the dark is when they are awake and busy, so they have to use other methods of communication and navigation to get around.  This is called echolocation.  Bats emit beeps and then listen for the beep to bounce back off of a solid structure.  Then they know where they are. 

🦇 Bat Species Make Up Nearly 25% of All Mammals on Earth.

There are more than 900 species of bats in the world, all broken up into different categories and classifications.  The Chiroptera Order is the first class in which bats are categorized.  From there they are split into suborders, genera, and then species.

🦇 Vampire Bats Do Not Actually Suck Blood, and Never Bite Humans.

Three species of vampire bats are known to exist around the world.  These three species of bats do not actually “suck” blood from other mammals.  They will, however, lick it up after emitting a bite to a cow or other large warm-blooded animal. 

Bat Removal and Control Near You

As you can see, bats are interesting and amazing creatures that are all too often misrepresented and misunderstood. Although bats deserve our respect and protection, they can sometimes be a nuisance to property owners. In this case, you need safe and humane bat abatement you can trust. 

Call Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for humane bat removal and control service in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding locations. Our DNR licensed wildlife removal specialists offer a wide range of bat abatement services, including bat extraction, bat-proofing, attic cleanup and minor restorations for bat damages, 24 hour emergency service, free estimates, and much more! Request a free estimate, today.