The Roby Adult Center has some uninvited guests upstairs. Bats have taken up residence in the attic, with the Greeneville’s City Council set to discuss awarding a bid for their removal.
Two bids were submitted for the job, but removing them won’t be cheap. Safe Haven Avian Group bid more than $82,000, while Rogers Wildlife Control came in lower at $36,000. Both proposals include removing the bats, sealing the attic to prevent re-entry and cleaning up any bat droppings.
Safe Haven’s proposal charged $7,500 for bat removal, compared to $9,800 from Rogers. However, Rogers included sealing the attic in that price. The biggest gap came in the cleanup and disinfecting work. Safe Haven’s cleanup and sanitation bid alone was $38,000 — more than Rogers’ total project cost. Safe Haven also quoted an additional $35,800 for their cost to seal the attic.
Cleanup involves disinfecting the attic to kill bacteria found in droppings, which can produce foul odors and harbor unsafe pathogens.
Most bat species in Tennessee are protected by law, which generally prohibits removal from May through August to avoid separating mothers from their pups. Wildlife regulations also require one-way exit devices that let bats leave but not return.
While bats often get a bad rap in movies, they play an important role in controlling insect populations. Still, they can cause damage to buildings, and signs of an infestation include squeaking and fluttering in attics or walls, small black droppings under vents or windows, an ammonia-like odor, and, of course, the sight of bats flying out at dusk.
The City Council will take up the bids during its regular meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the G. Thomas Love Board Room.
