LESLIE: Ooh, just thinking about our next caller’s situation is giving me the willies. (Tom chuckles) Jerry in California, welcome. You’ve got bats in the garage?
JERRY: Yes, in the belfry, if you want to put it that way. (Leslie laughs)
TOM: (chuckling) OK.
LESLIE: I tell you, I am always afraid that they are going to get stuck in my hair. That is what everybody says and we actually had one almost attack my sister. It really wasn’t attacking. It was just sort of getting away from her because she opened up its sleeping habitat which was our umbrella. And I laughed and laughed but secretly was like, “Thank goodness that wasn’t me.” (laughing)
TOM: It wasn’t you. (laughing)
Well Jerry, what kind of a problem is it? How bad is it?
JERRY: Well, it’s pretty bad. It’s an older structure …
TOM: OK.
JERRY: … that had been converted into a barn from some kind of farm building.
TOM: Mm-hmm.
JERRY: It has open soffits with the screen. I’ve plugged up holes. I’ve plugged up woodpecker holes. They get into the walls. They’re up in the rafters. And I’ve counted, on hot days, when they come out I’ve counted as many as 40 just hanging up there.
LESLIE: Wow.
TOM: Mm.
JERRY: They don’t really hang. They cling to the wood. But the worst part is the droppings.
TOM: Yes. And they can be very, very unhealthy. You don’t want to be exposed to that. You’ve got to get this cleaned up.
I want to recommend an excellent website to you, Jerry. It’s called BatCon.org. It’s the Bat Conservation International website. Fabulous website with all of the tips, all of the techniques that you need to know to keep those bats outside. They give you a lot of drawings and instructions …
LESLIE: Even videos.
TOM: … on how to – instruction videos – how to construct bat doors and how to seal and deter bats from getting into the house. So it’s BatCon – B-a-t-C-o-n.org. And I think you’ll find all your answers right there.
JERRY: Thank you very much.
TOM: You’re welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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