BCM bat eviction control solution for homeowners

The only proven way to deal with bat/human conflicts is a systematic repair of all sides of your structure. Suggestions such as extermination (now illegal in PA and many other states), trap and release, chemical repellents, floodlights, and ultrasonic devices are half hearted attempts at best, and at worst some may actually be dangerous to pets and family. These "methods" do not address the problem at the root: bat entry crevices must be repaired. Otherwise bats just simply keep coming back.

Bat control is non-lethal and relies upon exclusion. This is a relatively SLOW process...if we are working at a time of year when bats are still expected inside your particular house, we must seal every crevice possible on all sides of the building, but allow for an "escape hatch" over what seemed to be the main bat entrance. This simple flap, attached in a certain way so bats can escape but not re-enter, may be left up for a week or more. If no more bats are seen exiting, the flap is removed and the last hole repaired. It may take several tries to fully bat proof a building, especially if your eves resemble swiss cheese!

This is sometimes difficult, hazardous work that requires experience with bat behavior, specialized equipment, certain timing and scheduling, and a degree of safety precautions. Many home owners believe they can take care of their bat problem by trying methods that have never proven effective. In the worst case at the wrong time of year, the bats will find their way into the actual home believing it is an escape route or starve to death. We understand some folks want bats out NOW, but the reality is that sometimes more problems are avoided if the project is conducted at better times of the season when you are less likely to have larger number of bats on site.

Sometimes installing bat houses nearby will provide alternative places for bats to live and homeowners still benefit from free, natural insect control. You don't necessarily need to install a bat house on the building you are trying to repair; the long term solution is to give bats their little space away from where kids and pets might run into them. The bad news is if you just install a bunch of bat houses without making any kind of exclusion attempt, most of the bats simply choose your spacious attic over the tiny bat houses. Also, installing a bat house isn't inviting more bats into your or your neighbor's buildings. If the nearby buildings already are bat friendly, they would already have bats.

Given all that is outlined above, many people actually have trouble just finding a contractor even willing to take on bat work. Frankly, trapping a skunk is much easier money. The consumer then has to determine if the contractor has any real experience dealing with bat problems, or are they using you as a training experience? Bat Conservation and Management is a wildlife consulting company specializing with bat conflict resolution and exclusions. We do not deal with any type of nuisance wildlife problems other than bats. We offer several levels of service so homeowners do not pay for services they do not need. In the summer you may find us hard to get hold of, as we are typically booked several months forward with work. Understand that as a consultant we are providing time sensitive bat work needed by large developers, state, and federal agencies. Consider that your bat colony has probably been in your building for years now, and there are reasons to avoid summer exclusions that directly benefit anyone living there. Our schedule is dynamic and we travel a lot, so as long as you are not panicked into insisting that bats be removed instantly, we always work clients in and get the job done. Please appreciate BCM staffers are professional biologists willing to do some weatherproofing to your building because we have intimate knowledge of how and why bats are persisting, working at night when the bats are active for a higher quality job.

Not located in Pennsylvania? Traveling to your area is no problem, as we have also completed successful bat work in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Kentucky, and Florida. It pays to shop around and compare services...our clients claim our fees can be up to half what our competitors estimated. Because of our expertise, we have completed complex projects which other non-specialized contractors have walked away from or wildly overbid. Clients include private homeowners, the National Park Service, Pennsylvania State Parks, Department of Defense, the Nature Conservancy, apartment complexes, universities, and various private business locations.

We will usually beat any written estimate for any locality, please call John Chenger at 717-241-2228 (9 AM-4 PM EST or 814-442-4246 for a phone consultation.

Site Survey

We inspect the exterior and/or the interior of the structure noting bat exits. This service can be done year-round.
An estimate is given for the bat exclusion. We are happy to explain procedures, materials, and timing. Any other possible solutions are discussed and weighed (e.g. increased ventilation to control odor, total roof/soffit replacement rather than bat proofing).
We will help you select a site for an optional bat house which is both suitable for bats and homeowners.
We can survey the structure during the summer exit flight if needed, noting entrances and counting the actual number of bats involved. You cannot estimate numbers any other way.
In the end, many people simply take all this information and add it to work already being planned or simply do it themselves. Knowledge is power and we don't feel it is necessary to be "scared" into an elaborate repair job if your problem can be solved in an hour on a stepladder. Site surveys start at $50 and depend on location and timing.
If you are just looking for a quote on structure repair, a site survey is not necessary. Choose the email or phone consultation options below.

Structure Repair

Timing is important. If your bats are migratory, October-March is fair game for an all around sealing attempt. Otherwise a more elaborate approach involving bat "escape hatches" is appropriate and usually requires several trips and a degree of patience. This work is also seasonal to avoid entrapping flightless young within the building.
It may take several trips to completely bat proof a building.
The cost of the bat exclusion varies depending on the amount of work to be done, the size of the structure, time of year, and the site accessibility. Residential structures can start at $800 but usually never exceed $3,000.
If bats are still using your structure the summer after our sealing because of failed repairs, we will revisit and repair the structure at no labor cost. A basic travel expense may still be assessed, usually less than $300. The homeowner MUST witness bats emerging from the building. BCM cannot assist with a "random" bat flying inside the house, nor can we prevent bats from temporarily roosting on the exterior of a building, or flying over a building.
Extra large complex structures (multiple dormers, towers, bump outs, etc.) or traditionally bat-friendly roof types (slate, tin, Spanish tile, or cedar) may require a larger than average level of effort.
An active bat exclusion (a sealing attempt when bats are present) may temporarily increase the chances of encountering a bat within the living spaces.
We use adhesive caulking, never messy, nasty spray foam for a more professional, solid job. Foam deteriorates with UV light.
We will expect to use relatively lightweight, narrow, battery operated (read: quiet) boom lift machines almost exclusively on your project. In this way we are able to spend our time inspecting work rather than dealing with cumbersome ladders and scaffolding.
We may not take on certain jobs that have too many sides inaccessible to our lift machine and/or work areas that cannot be reached by descending ropes from above. You may consider emailing photos if possible (see below) if you have special circumstances.
While the lift is only 5' wide, it requires approximately a 14' wide space to allow for outriggers to deploy. We can work the outriggers between trees, bushes, etc. but not hardscape like fences or your neighbor's house. We have a vertical reach of over 60' if parked next to the building. We have an awesome 35' horizontal reach for telescoping over porches, sensitive landscaping, etc.
We schedule work opportunities to avoid wet yards to minimize landscaping damage. Damage, if any, is usually limited to shallow indents where vehicles were driven. Vehicles are a 3/4 ton pickup truck (6000 lbs.) and the lift machine itself (approximately 5000 lbs.). BCM is not responsible for landscaping damage in the unlikely event that it occurs.
Because of the nature of the business, some work may be performed after dark to watch for additional bats emerging and ensure progress is being made.

Bat House Installation

We will help you select a site for a bat house which is both suitable for bats and homeowners.
If desired, we then install a premium Seven Chamber Steel Bat House, providing all necessary materials (post, pole mount, assembled box, concrete, etc.)
Site surveys and installations start at $300 including one Seven Chamber Steel Bat House on a post. Additional quantities at cost on the same visit.
A note about bat houses: providing alternate habitat for your displaced colony is an ideal way to keep bats nearby and maintaining the free insect control you already enjoy. Bats will be more likely to favor the new artificial roost nearby over your now difficult to access structure. This reduces the chance of bats becoming imperiled when they must seek other roost structures in the community whose owners may use hazardous or inhumane methods to deal with them. However, simply installing many bat houses does not guarantee any success unless the original structure is successfully repaired.

PA:Exclusion	NJ:CornerScreen	NJ:Exclusion	NJ: Exclusion	NY: Exclusion	NY: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion
WV: Exclusion	KY: BatIndoors	KY: BatsIndoors	PA: Exclusion	NM:BatsIndoors	NC: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion
PA: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion
PA: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion	MA: Exclusion	MA: Exclusion	OH: Site Survey
WV: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion	PA: Exclusion


Bat Exclusion Solution The methods used for bat removal have nothing in common with the methods normally used for animals such as raccoons, opossums, squirrels, groundhogs, and others. Instead of using traps, bat control is accomplished using a systematic exclusion program. The only proven way to deal with bat/human conflicts is a systematic repair of all sides of your structure. Suggestions such as extermination (now illegal in PA and many other states), trap and release, chemical repellents, floodlights, and ultrasonic devices are half hearted attempts at best, and at worst some may actually be dangerous to pets and family. These "methods" do not address the problem at the root: bat entry crevices must be repaired. Otherwise bats just simply keep coming back. Bat control is non-lethal and relies upon exclusion. This is a relatively SLOW process...if we are working at a time of year when bats are still expected inside your particular house, we must seal every crevice possible on all sides of the building, but allow for an "escape hatch" over what seemed to be the main bat entrance. This simple flap, attached in a certain way so bats can escape but not re-enter, may be left up for a week or more. If no more bats are seen exiting, the flap is removed and the last hole repaired. It may take several tries to fully bat proof a building, especially if your eves resemble swiss cheese! This is sometimes difficult, hazardous work that requires experience with bat behavior, specialized equipment, certain timing and scheduling, and a degree of safety precautions. Many home owners believe they can take care of their bat problem by trying methods that have never proven effective. In the worst case at the wrong time of year, the bats will find their way into the actual home believing it is an escape route or starve to death. We understand some folks want bats out NOW, but the reality is that sometimes more problems are avoided if the project is conducted at better times of the season when you are less likely to have larger number of bats on site. Sometimes installing bat houses nearby will provide alternative places for bats to live and homeowners still benefit from free, natural insect control. You don't necessarily need to install a bat house on the building you are trying to repair; the long term solution is to give bats their little space away from where kids and pets might run into them. The bad news is if you just install a bunch of bat houses without making any kind of exclusion attempt, most of the bats simply choose your spacious attic over the tiny bat houses. Also, installing a bat house isn't inviting more bats into your or your neighbor's buildings. If the nearby buildings already are bat friendly, they would already have bats. Given all that is outlined above, many people actually have trouble just finding a contractor even willing to take on bat work. Frankly, trapping a skunk is much easier money. The consumer then has to determine if the contractor has any real experience dealing with bat problems, or are they using you as a training experience? Bat Conservation and Management is a wildlife consulting company specializing with bat conflict resolution and exclusions. We do not deal with any type of nuisance wildlife problems other than bats. We offer several levels of service so homeowners do not pay for services they do not need. In the summer you may find us hard to get hold of, as we are typically booked several months forward with work. Understand that as a consultant we are providing time sensitive bat work needed by large developers, state, and federal agencies. Consider that your bat colony has probably been in your building for years now, and there are reasons to avoid summer exclusions that directly benefit anyone living there. Our schedule is dynamic and we travel a lot, so as long as you are not panicked into insisting that bats be removed instantly, we always work clients in and get the job done. Please appreciate BCM staffers are professional biologists willing to do some weatherproofing to your building because we have intimate knowledge of how and why bats are persisting, working at night when the bats are active for a higher quality job. Not located in Pennsylvania? Traveling to your area is no problem, as we have also completed successful bat work in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Kentucky, and Florida. It pays to shop around and compare services...our clients claim our fees can be up to half what our competitors estimated. Because of our expertise, we have completed complex projects which other non-specialized contractors have walked away from or wildly overbid. Clients include private homeowners, the National Park Service, Pennsylvania State Parks, Department of Defense, the Nature Conservancy, apartment complexes, universities, and various private business locations. We will usually beat any written estimate for any locality, please call John Chenger at 717-241-2228 (9 AM-4 PM EST or 814-442-4246 for a phone consultation. Site Survey We inspect the exterior and/or the interior of the structure noting bat exits. This service can be done year-round. An estimate is given for the bat exclusion. We are happy to explain procedures, materials, and timing. Any other possible solutions are discussed and weighed (e.g. increased ventilation to control odor, total roof/soffit replacement rather than bat proofing). We will help you select a site for an optional bat house which is both suitable for bats and homeowners. We can survey the structure during the summer exit flight if needed, noting entrances and counting the actual number of bats involved. You cannot estimate numbers any other way. In the end, many people simply take all this information and add it to work already being planned or simply do it themselves. Knowledge is power and we don't feel it is necessary to be "scared" into an elaborate repair job if your problem can be solved in an hour on a stepladder. Site surveys start at $50 and depend on location and timing. If you are just looking for a quote on structure repair, a site survey is not necessary. Choose the email or phone consultation options below. Structure Repair Timing is important. If your bats are migratory, October-March is fair game for an all around sealing attempt. Otherwise a more elaborate approach involving bat "escape hatches" is appropriate and usually requires several trips and a degree of patience. This work is also seasonal to avoid entrapping flightless young within the building. It may take several trips to completely bat proof a building. The cost of the bat exclusion varies depending on the amount of work to be done, the size of the structure, time of year, and the site accessibility. Residential structures can start at $800 but usually never exceed $3,000. If bats are still using your structure the summer after our sealing because of failed repairs, we will revisit and repair the structure at no labor cost. A basic travel expense may still be assessed, usually less than $300. The homeowner MUST witness bats emerging from the building. BCM cannot assist with a "random" bat flying inside the house, nor can we prevent bats from temporarily roosting on the exterior of a building, or flying over a building. Extra large complex structures (multiple dormers, towers, bump outs, etc.) or traditionally bat-friendly roof types (slate, tin, Spanish tile, or cedar) may require a larger than average level of effort. An active bat exclusion (a sealing attempt when bats are present) may temporarily increase the chances of encountering a bat within the living spaces. We use adhesive caulking, never messy, nasty spray foam for a more professional, solid job. Foam deteriorates with UV light. We will expect to use relatively lightweight, narrow, battery operated (read: quiet) boom lift machines almost exclusively on your project. In this way we are able to spend our time inspecting work rather than dealing with cumbersome ladders and scaffolding. We may not take on certain jobs that have too many sides inaccessible to our lift machine and/or work areas that cannot be reached by descending ropes from above. You may consider emailing photos if possible (see below) if you have special circumstances. While the lift is only 5' wide, it requires approximately a 14' wide space to allow for outriggers to deploy. We can work the outriggers between trees, bushes, etc. but not hardscape like fences or your neighbor's house. We have a vertical reach of over 60' if parked next to the building. We have an awesome 35' horizontal reach for telescoping over porches, sensitive landscaping, etc. We schedule work opportunities to avoid wet yards to minimize landscaping damage. Damage, if any, is usually limited to shallow indents where vehicles were driven. Vehicles are a 3/4 ton pickup truck (6000 lbs.) and the lift machine itself (approximately 5000 lbs.). BCM is not responsible for landscaping damage in the unlikely event that it occurs. Because of the nature of the business, some work may be performed after dark to watch for additional bats emerging and ensure progress is being made. Bat House Installation We will help you select a site for a bat house which is both suitable for bats and homeowners. If desired, we then install a premium Seven Chamber Steel Bat House, providing all necessary materials (post, pole mount, assembled box, concrete, etc.) Site surveys and installations start at $300 including one Seven Chamber Steel Bat House on a post. Additional quantities at cost on the same visit. A note about bat houses: providing alternate habitat for your displaced colony is an ideal way to keep bats nearby and maintaining the free insect control you already enjoy. Bats will be more likely to favor the new artificial roost nearby over your now difficult to access structure. This reduces the chance of bats becoming imperiled when they must seek other roost structures in the community whose owners may use hazardous or inhumane methods to deal with them. However, simply installing many bat houses does not guarantee any success unless the original structure is successfully repaired.		Besides being inhumane, traps, poisons, and ultrasonic emitters do not address the real problem-- more animals will eventually enter the structure regardless of how many traps are set. These "quick fixes" only aggravate homeowners with failure, dwindle the pocketbook, and are a total waste of time. Exterior showing an unusually extreme amount of bat evidence: droppings and staining. "One-way doors" are an effective and humane way to exclude bats at certain times of the year. This one is fastened to the peak of the roof. The "One-way door" can be nothing more than a simple screen fastened in such a way that allows bats to escape but not re-enter. Here are big brown bats escaping while one attempts to reenter... bats "home in" on the airflow from the attic and "don't remember" to access the crevice from under the screen. Fear turned into fascination, this homeowner wants to keep his bat colony on the property, just not in his attic. Recently the PA Game Commission clearly made it illegal for any contractor in Pennsylvania to kill bats. A number of other state wildlife agencies have similar policies, so please be wary of any individual who proposes this "solution" or prepares to seal bats within a building without any allowance for escape. BCM also believes "trapping and relocating" bats is a total waste of time and your money, it accomplishes nothing that a simple exclusion screen can't do without the risk of killing bats accidently. Please read the PGC letter for yourself...
		Phone Consultation Obviously there is no charge for a phone consultation. BCM, Inc. does not deal with termites, skunks, birds, or other nuisance wildlife. Rest assured you will be speaking to a bat expert who can help you find a solid solution with minimal risk to the wildlife and homeowner. A few items we will be discussing in order to formulate a plan will be: The address of your building. The age, upkeep, siding material, and height of the structure. The number of dormers or other unusual changes in roof pitch. Accessibility: we will want to maneuver a full size truck ideally all around and park within 7' of the building. Often if just the 4 corners are vehicle accessible we can work on the structure. The type of roofing material. After a few minutes of discussion, we can offer a quick estimate and rough completion time. Email Consultation There is no charge for an email consultation. For the best quote or some suggestions, email us photos of your situation. Please provide the address of the building. At least 3 or 4 photos showing different sides of the building. Photos should be wide angle, capturing the whole building and the landscaping around the building. Please describe any unusual issues. Access is our main issue. If there are steep slopes or bad access to one or more sides of the building, please show those approaches clearly if possible. Typically an actual quote will be provided along with a rough completion time. The quote is usually firm. We have done enough of these to not be surprised and rarely find anything during a site visit that wasn't seen in good photos. All of the work is done on the exterior...please do not send interior photos. Send requests to jchenger@batmanagement.com