When you hear strange noises in your home, it can often be difficult to pinpoint the source.  Is it just the normal sounds of a house settling, or is there something living in your walls or attic?  Just like humans, animals leave behind evidence of where they’ve been and what they’ve been doing, and bats are no exception.

• Scratching in the walls or attic – Bats are nocturnal and mostly likely to move around at night, so if you notice scratching noises in the walls and ceiling after dark, they may be the culprit.
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•  Squeaking or chirping – Bat vocalizations sound like squeaking or chirping, and since people aren’t used to hearing these noises, they’re often mistaken for baby birds or mice.
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• Strong odor of ammonia – A bat’s waste material – called guano – smells very distinctly of ammonia.  If you begin to notice this particular aroma in your home, you’re definitely facing an animal problem.  This could also indicate a mouse infestation.
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•  Bat guano – If you suspect a bat problem walk the perimeter of their home to inspect for bat droppings.  Bats will usually defecate right before and right after they take off, so the guano will accumulate on the exterior of the home near their entry and exit points.  Look near the roof line.
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•  Rub marks – Bats have oily fur that collects dust and dirt as they go about their day.  When bats squeeze into and out of their entry holes, they will leave dirty smudges on the outside of a structure.  Look for these rub marks on gables, vents, soffits, and loose flashing.
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•  Bat sighting – If you visually observe a bat entering or exiting your home or if you’ve found a bat in a room of your house, it’s a likely sign of a much larger infestation. source: abcwildlife.com

For a top rated Macomb County Bat Control Service, please call CMC Animal Control at (248) 904-5162.