Recently, many Canadians have reported more wildlife sightings as a result of the 2019 orthocoronavirinae (COVID-19). In fact, there were 15,000 new sightings reported in the first few days of April compared to the 9,500 for the same period last year. People are self-isolating and staying at home as much as possible to reduce the spread of the virus. Therefore, streets and parks are much quieter, allowing for more animals to roam around freely. However, as a result, many creatures are moving closer to peoples’ homes, entering them, and inhabiting them. Montreal is no stranger to this phenomenon and infestations are becoming more common by the day. It is important to plan ahead and secure your home from the potential invasion of these creatures. If they have already invaded, it is best to find a professional Canadian wildlife removal company for help. With more time spent at home due to the pandemic, it is essential to make your home as safe, healthy, and comfortable as possible.
Cooler climate
Montreal is known for having extremely cold winters that run from mid-November to mid-March. In fact, the average temperature of about -10 °C (14 °F) in January is similar to that of Moscow, Russia. It is very difficult for many creatures to survive in these conditions and seek refuge from the cold. In addition, Volant animals like birds and bats migrate south for the winter and seek shelter in peoples’ homes, to escape the cooler climate. Bats are one of the most common invaders that infiltrate the home and inhabit attics in the Montreal area. The chill of winter provides many creatures, but most notably bats, with a need to find shelter.
Bats can be dangerous
Bats are known to be carriers of zoonotic diseases; deadly diseases that are easily transmittable to humans. They most commonly carry and spread the rabies virus, the Hendra and Marburg viruses, and histoplasmosis. On average each bat species hosts 1.79 zoonotic viruses! Their droppings can also be harmful to humans. In fact, their droppings can contain over 60 transmissible diseases, including the H5N1 virus, E.coli, West Nile virus, and Allergic Alveolitis. Many of these are transmittable diseases that are life-threatening and pose a great danger to families whose homes are invaded by bats. It is important to note that these diseases/viruses are not easily recognizable by the naked eye and can only be seen in laboratory settings. Therefore, it is best not to take any chances with these pests infesting your home. Calling pest control companies will be able to remove bats.
Why do bats carry so many diseases?
Bats prefer to live in dark, musty spaces that are full of bacteria. These spaces provide the ideal environment for pathogens to exchange between bats in a colony. In the wild, bats live in huge, crowded colonies together; oftentimes with members of differing bat species. They can live in caves and hollowed-out trees in groups of up to millions; where viruses can pass easily between them through close contact with each other. It is widely believed that partly because of this they have evolved to create an immunity to many viruses. They also have created immunity through having hot internal temperatures of 104°F (41°C), a strong immune system, and a dampened antiviral immune pathway in some species.
How do I bat-proof my home?
First, carefully examine your home for holes that bats could potentially enter through. If you see any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch, be sure to seal them. Then, use window screens, chimney caps, and draft guards beneath doors to close off entry to attics, fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool, and ensure that all doors to the outside close tightly. If you have noticed bats in your home, it’s important to observe their behaviour and cover all outside entry points. This can be done by observing where bats exit at dusk and prevent them from returning by loosely hanging clear plastic sheeting or bird netting over these points. The bats will be able to leave, but cannot re-enter. These openings can be permanently resealed once the bats are gone. You can find more humane control and removal tips at wildlifehumane.org.
If there are bats in your home, it is best to call a wildlife specialist to remove these bats and/or other creatures living in your home. Hiring a professional for help will save you the time, energy, and trouble of trying to get rid of these pests and ensure that you will keep your home safe and healthy. Wildlife specialists will be able to locate the entry point of bats and then locate the bat colony in no time. They will make sure to seal all of the entry and exit points of the bats and proceed to put a one-way door on the last remaining entry and exit point. When the bats leave to find food and water, they will not be able to return to their nests. The rest of the colony will follow and soon the colony of bats will be out of your house. If any bats stay behind, the specialists can return to remove any remaining bats or pups.
Other articles from mtltimes.ca – totimes.ca – otttimes.ca
