Square One Home Inspection
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Home Inspections for Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Ripon, Waupun, and Beaver Dam Areas
Home Inspectors Blog
Bats In the Belfry
Submitted by IanIquette on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 10:24.Recently, I had the pleasure of inspection a home in the Ripon area. It was an older farm house, and it had a few defects that needed to be reported on. All in all though, it was a well kept home and was holding up very well for its' age. But, I did have the pleasure of running into a pet peeve of mine. When I run into this, it goes in the home inspection report every time, well not every time. Just when I run into more than one during a home inspection, or find evidence that there may be more than one of these present.
The home inspection was going along pretty well. Like I said, I found a few items that would need to be addressed by my client or the current home owner, but no deal breakers so to speak. So, every one was in a pretty good mood. I was going to be inspecting the attic as the next phase of my home inspection. This particular attic had a pulldown stairway leading into it. These are ideal, no need to get a step ladder from the truck, as long as they are maintained and safe to use.
Anyway, like I said, I was about to inspect the attic of this home. I started this like any other attic inspection. I made a little noise opening the access, this scares any critters that may be in there and they will usually freeze, or at least let me know they are in there. Next, I went about half way up the stairs and got my light into the attic. I fanned the light around the attic a few times, as I always do. Are you getting the idea that I don't like surprises when I enter the attic? So far I have not heard any noises coming from the attic. To me, that is a great sign. As one last precaution, I bang around a little bit on the framing sorrounding the access hole to the attic. Nothing, no hissing, no scurrying, no wings flapping, nada..........complete silence.
So, now confident that I will have the attic to myself, I start making my way up the rest of the pulldown, and into the attic. And that is when I saw them. I found these within 2 seconds of having a complete visual of the entire attic. My light was drawn to them. Like a 10 Ton magnet. Glowing almost, calling my name. Zoiks! Just hanging there from the rafters, peering down on me, wondering what I could possibly want at this time of day. Not really angry, but definitely keeping an eye on me. Ready to strike if the situation called for such action.
I could feel the tension in the attic growing stronger. I needed to gain access to check out some situations I needed to from observations made below. But, now what? How was I going to do this with this obstacle in my way? 
These..........beady eyed........bug eating...........dark loving............blood sucking...............BATS!! Yes, bats! My nemesis as a home inspector. I just don't like the darn things.
These..........beady eyed........bug eating...........dark loving............blood sucking...............BATS!! Yes, bats! My nemesis as a home inspector. I just don't like the darn things.So, what was I to do here. Here I was, not yet fully in the attic, and I discover these winged rodents? First, I looked around to see if I could find their entry and exit points. All the while keeping one eye on my friends, which were 6 in total. Not a whole lot, but one is all it takes. From my vantage point I could not find the entry or exit. So, I very carefully made my way into the attic, still with one eye on the bats, and very slowly did my visual inspection. I told my clients to plese wait at the ladder below, becasue of the bats. I didn't want them to get curious and poke their head in and startle the beady eyed flying rats.
As I did my visual inspection of the attic, making sure not to disturb the bats, they just stared at me. But I made sure not to make any sudden movements to startle them. The entire time, they hung in their little beds, trying to catch some shut eye. I was able to complete my attic inspection without much of a fuss, although I did have disclaim a section as I was unable to access the entire area where the bats were hanging out, but I was able to get photos of the ara and examine them at a safer location. So, in the end I was able to gather all the information I needed, and remained safe.
When you need to access your attic for any reason, I caution you to be aware that there may be animals that have made their way into this area and made themselves, well, at HOME. Do not try to corner them and try not to get them too flustered. If they get into a situation like this, they may attack. They are doing what nature has taught them to do. Fight back, and survive at all costs. The best thing for you to do if you find an animal infestation in the attic of your home, is to call a professional pest control company. They should be able to come to your home and remove the animals, and find the points of entry that will need to be repaired in order to prevent future entry.
