DEAR SUN SPOTS: We have bats in our shed, which is attached to our house. Already this summer four have made it into the house. Not fun in the middle of the night!

Any suggestions on how to get rid of them would be greatly appreciated. — D.B., Livermore Falls

ANSWER: Sun Spots can sympathize. When she was a girl bats got into her house, and it was very creepy. It can also be dangerous, as they can carry rabies.

On the other hand, bats are very good for the environment, as they eat tons of bugs, especially mosquitoes, and they are now endangered by the white nose fungus, so you really shouldn’t kill them.

Several websites reiterated what Sun Spots already knew — that bats are very good at getting in anywhere two buildings are attached, as well as around dormers, chimneys, etc.

One helpful website is batsintheattic.org. Another, WikiHow (wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Bats) begins with this list of bat-entry points:

• Broken or poorly fitted screens

• Loose or missing shingles or tiles

• Places where flashing or boards have come loose

• Locations where pipes or wiring enter buildings

• Where walls meet the eaves at the gable ends of an attic

• Where porches attach to the main part of a house

• Where dormers meet the roof

• Cracks and crevices where siding forms corners, or at places where it meets windows, doors or chimneys

If the bats are actually nesting in your home, you will want to either hire a professional to remove them first or use a one-way device to let the bats out but keep them from re-entering before you seal up the gap.

Most websites recommend placing netting over the gap and anchoring it at the top and halfway down the sides of the gap. Make the netting long, that way the bats can slide out between the wall and netting, but they can’t get back in.

Finding the gaps can by the tough part. Investigation will take considerable time, as even a small spot can allow entry and the experts say they usually have more than one entry point.

Depending on the situation, you might be able to use Sun Spots’ technique for finding gaps that allow bugs in.

At night, after it is fully dark and preferably when there is no moon, turn on every light in the areas you suspect, then go outside and inspect the house for cracks of light showing through.

Since even a slight angle may hide the light, you will need to use a ladder to check from top to bottom. This method isn’t guaranteed, as the bats may be entering the outside wall at one place, then making their way in the wall or attic to get into the house.

All in all, de-batting will be a very time-consuming and meticulous task, so if you have more money than time, you might want to hire an expert (see answer to next question). Perhaps you can make some money by charging people on Halloween to come and watch the bats fly out of your shed at dusk.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you so much for the excellent lead so that I could get window-washing services. The crew arrived last week and did the best job that was ever done to my windows!

Now I hope you can help me again. I need to hire a carpet-cleaning service for a hallway and set of stairs. There is nothing in the “yellow pages” that leads me to one.

Additionally, I need to hire someone who does pest control for mice. Once again, there is nothing in the “yellow pages.” Thank you for any help you can provide. — J M., Turner

ANSWER: Sun Spots guesses that by “yellow pages” you mean online. Well, this is one instance where the “real” yellow pages is of more help. 

You can find several listings for carpet cleaning on pages 24 and 25 in the 2013-2014 Lewiston-Auburn area phonebook yellow pages. Sun Spots cannot recommend any particular service — it wouldn’t be fair, but readers may have some they want to refer.

As for the mice, they are included in the listings for pest control, which focuses mostly on bugs, but also includes rodents and bats. Check out pages 148 and 149 in the same book. Again, readers may want to recommend a specific service or method they’ve used for mice and had good results. Sun Spots lets her cats handle them.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

Copy the Story Link