Besides making your house smell bad guano can cause a lung infection called histoplasmosis that is caused by inhaling the spores of a fungus that is carried in bat guano.
Attic full of bat guano.
Of course the dust often found in attics may be an irritant and you might be wise to wear a dust mask there is very little risk of histoplasmosis.
Long term issues with bats in the attic is a primary catalyst for hazardous bat guano contamination.
This airborne respiratory disease affects the lungs infecting people when they inhale.
It s one of the steps in bat removal and prevention.
As the pile enlarges it could affect the insulation and attic structure.
Remove lose droppings on smooth surfaces by vacuum as seen in the below photo and scrub such surfaces with an enzyme based cleaner.
Make certain the bats are all removed and the building is sealed so none can get back in.
You ll notice bats have made their way into your attic thanks to the smell of their guano or urine which are extremely pungent you may also hear them in early dawn and dusk hours.
Bat guano looks like tiny elongated black pellets.
It is when the guano starts to accumulate and pile up that the fungus can grow and develop spores.
Droppings over time work their way into the structure leaving a lasting smell that s hard to remove.
In most cases of bat guano abatement is not necessary and a waste of money.
Here are the proper steps for cleaning bat guano out of an attic or any other space.
Bat guano removal is simply a step you have to take to get your home looking like it did before your bat infestation.
Over time bat guano will begin to develop fungus in attics and walls due to the humidity caused by bat urine.
Small amounts of bat poop in your attic or walls is not a threat to your health unless the bat guano is disturbed.
Signs of infestation deposits of guano accumulate within walls and attics as well as on the ground and roof tiles.
You would have to directly inhale the histo spores from the bat guano to even potentially get sick.
The musty acrid smell of bat droppings along with the stains they leave on walls or ceilings is a sure sign of bat infestations.
When the powdery guano breaks down it releases airborne pathogens.
Histoplasmosis is the most common disease associated with bat guano.
How to get rid of bats.
Bat dung in your attic is dangerous but this problem has a realistic solution.
Attics also tend to be scorching hot during the summer which further contributes to bad odors and fungus development.
Scattered bat droppings guano do not pose a risk and can be safely swept up or vacuumed.
The first thing you should know about how to get rid of bats is that they cannot be removed with poison.
Undisturbed bat droppings are the safest bat droppings.