COVID-19 AND ANIMAL DAMAGE CONTROL – UPDATE AND TOP QUESTIONS ON BAT REMOVAL AND CONTROL

Here at Advanced Wildlife Control, Inc., we take the welfare of our customers, as well as the animals we work with, seriously.

Today’s climate provides the opportunity for us to refine our processes and enhance them to fit into new and evolving guidelines for safety.

Information regarding COVID-19 is changing continuously especially in our line of work and we are committed to assuring we implement all necessary precautions and guidelines as needed.

We are fielding Bat removal (with all animal control services) amid COVID-19 questions daily and updating our page accordingly. The public has a myriad of conflicting information sources when searched, relative to animals with a particular focus on BATS.

Fear is the root of many of the questions and it is our goal to try to mitigate untruths during the uncertainty of intensity of the spread from animals to people.

*Please check back as we add Q&A below as new questions emerge with updated information

IS BAT REMOVAL AND OTHER WILDLIFE REMOVAL SERVICES OPERATING UNDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER?

Yes, Wildlife Control which includes bat removal, raccoon removal, skunk removal, bird removal, squirrel and other invasive rodent removals, and prevention services are deemed essential. We are committed to the safe handling, removal, and prevention of bats and other nuisance wildlife from both commercial and residential properties.

WHAT ARE CORONAVIRUSES AND DO THEY SPREAD FROM BATS TO HUMANS?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals; including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and now with this new virus (named SARS-CoV-2), and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”). 

For more details on this visit the CDC

DO BATS CARRY COVID-19? 

Unfortunately, this question remains unsubstantiated. With this in mind, our team is proceeding with the same safety we take with all wildlife. Because they can carry Rabies as well as Histoplasmosis, which is a disease caused by bat droppings (guano) that attacks the lungs, we always proceed with cautionary measures to protect our customers, ourselves and even other mammals and animals.
Below is a segment from an article in sciencedaily.com; 
Possible origins of the virus 
Based on their genomic sequencing analysis, Andersen and his collaborators concluded that the most likely origins for SARS-CoV-2 followed one of two possible scenarios.
In one scenario, the virus evolved to its current pathogenic state through natural selection in a non-human host and then jumped to humans. This is how previous coronavirus outbreaks have emerged, with humans contracting the virus after direct exposure to civets (SARS) and camels (MERS). The researchers proposed bats as the most likely reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 as it is very similar to a bat coronavirus. There are no documented cases of direct bat-human transmission, however, suggesting that an intermediate host was likely involved between bats and humans.

Read the CDC FAQ on Animals

CAN COVID-19 BE TRANSMITTED IN BAT DROPPINGS? 

Bat droppings, also known as guano, are usually visible. This, in particular, is of interest to our home buyers and families who are spending more time at home with the current environment. This question has also come in from realtors looking out for the welfare of their buyers as well as proactively for sellers.  It is better to evict the bats from a residence back to their environment humanely with one-way doors and use prevention measures to assure they do not come back if this is a concern.

As stated in the preceding answer, there has been no substantial confirmation as to whether bats Do or Do not actually carry the virus.  The uncertainty of this simply has our team using standard safety measures as is typical with bat handling to assure we are safe in all practices and putting the safety of bats and customers first.

Below is an article excerpt from Popular Mechanics discussing the possible transmission through human fecal matter.

• Earlier this month, a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association noted that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can be detected live in feces, meaning it can be transmitted through fecal matter. 
• Biobot, a wastewater analytics company, says it will begin analyzing sewage samples from across the U.S. 
•  To help track the spread of COVID–19, the startup wants to create a map of sewage systems that have poop testing positive.

***with regard to bat droppings, there is a remote possibility they can carry Histoplasmosis. 
Histoplasmosis is a lung disease caused by an infection with a fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum. The pulmonary (lung) infection results from inhaling airborne spores of the fungus. The fungus is common in the U.S. in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and is common in soil contaminated by bird or bat droppings. We use caution when handling bats to assure this is contained.

HAS NEW HAMPSHIRE OR MAINE ISSUED ANY ADDITIONAL SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING BATS AND OTHER WILDLIFE?

We have been in contact with both NH Fish and Game and Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in response to ADC guidelines relative to proper protocols in light of COVID-19. It is our daily practice to check updates and assure we are aligned with any changes. Both agencies have always set guidelines for handling to assure safety to the public.  Many of these current regulations are essential with COVID-19 and have kept the public safe early on.

Maine issued a formal communication to organizations and individuals who handle Wildlife.  This confirmed the “ability for ADC agents to operate under recent Executive Order restrictions, and guidance on handling wildlife species.” It also reviewed the wildlife community’s concern about the potential transmission of COVID-19 from humans to wildlife (and likewise the potential transmission from wildlife to humans) and gave guidance on safe handling in removal practice.

The current handling with appropriate gear was reiterated and with the concern of spread, we want to assure you we are committed to resolving customers bat issues more than ever but negating fears based on hysteria. Relocating wildlife outside of the residence puts customers at ease. We want to assure humane practices using proper gear and any current or new safety guidelines.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE BATS OR SEE BATS IN YOUR PROPERTY?

If you are experiencing noises or Scratching sounds, or if you are actually SEEING bats, call or text our expert Bat removal and control services team for safe humane bat removal and management 24/7.

We issued a COVID-19 Update in early March outlining the nature of our business as not typically hands-on with the customer.  We practice safe social distancing guidelines and will wear safety masks and gloves IF we need to enter the home. However, most of our preventative work is done from the outside with one-way doors and we can process all invoicing and payments online if needed.

In times of uncertainty, we are proceeding with our standard safety protocols and inspections will remain FREE.

Advanced Wildlife Control is located on the Dover / Somersworth line and provides emergency bat removal service in the NH Seacoast communities, Southern Maine, and surrounding areas 24 Hours a day and 7 days a week with EMERGENCY service calls.

Call or Text our expert Bat removal and control services team now at 1-603-833-2444 for safe bat removal and management.