Bat urine stalactites are the result of the accumulation of minerals from years of bats urinating in a roost. The video below shows the damage caused by a bat colony occupying a home for 20 years. Even though the video is a bit grainy, you will see how much excrement, bat urine and damage can be caused by allowing bats to reside in a home for decades. One issue not mentioned in the video is the impact that bat urine can have on the structure’s integrity. Bat urine can degrade and weaken the strength of wood that is exposed to the urine. In addition, the weight of guano (bat feces) can also weaken the the structure as well by providing a weight load that is not identified and compensated for in the building’s original design.
Bat urine stalactites like the water stalactites in caves grow from the ceiling down, not from the floor up. If you have bats in your home, be sure to hire a qualified wildlife control operator or pest control operator. You should also be sure that the contractor knows how to handle bats effectively, humanely and legally. Tips on identifying bat presence can be found at the following link: Bat Control.
Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications available at {Stephen’s Academia.edu Page} along with several books {WCC Store}). Listen to his podcast “Living the Wild Life” at {Pest Geek Podcast}. Please subscribe to {Stephen’s YouTube Channel} He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com. Copyright All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text (not images) may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included. If images wish to be used, explicit and written permission must be obtained from Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC.