When bats roost in the attic or another part of your home in Raleigh, they tend to leave a big mess behind. Bat droppings, called guano, will pile up each day on floors and insulation. Guano often contains a fungus known to cause the respiratory illness histoplasmosis, so it’s important to thoroughly clean up after a bat infestation.

Before you begin the clean-up process, you’ll need to dress for the job. Wear a respirator, gloves, goggles, and disposable coveralls to keep from making contact with guano or breathing in fungal spores. You should also ventilate your attic space by opening any windows and setting up fans throughout the area.

After you’ve made these preparations, it’s time to dispose of the bat guano. Your first impulse may be to sweep or vacuum the bats’ fecal matter; don’t do this, because it can release histoplasma spores into the air. Instead, mist the contaminated area to prevent dust and spores from spreading. Then, you can carefully scoop up all of the guano and dump it into heavy-duty trash bags for safe disposal.

Once all the guano has been taken care of, your next step should be to remove and replace insulation that has been soiled by the bats’ droppings. With all the contaminants removed from your attic, it’s time to thoroughly disinfect all hard surfaces by applying a bleach cleaning solution. This will neutralize lingering bacteria and fungus from the bats and their waste.

Cleaning up after a bat infestation is a hazardous job that may not be a great choice for a do-it-yourself project. If you’re interested in professional bat clean-up services in the Raleigh area, give Southern Wildlife & Bat Control a call today!