You’ve successfully excluded the bats from your attic. The noise is gone. But now you’re left with the mess: piles of bat droppings, known as guano.

Many homeowners think they can just grab a broom and sweep it up. Do not do this.

Bat guano is not just dirty; it is a hazardous material. In the Ohio River Valley (including Louisville), guano is the primary breeding ground for a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum. Mishandling cleanup can put you and your family at risk of a serious respiratory disease.

The Risk: Histoplasmosis

When bat guano dries out, it becomes powdery. If you disturb it—by sweeping, vacuuming with a standard shop vac, or shoveling—microscopic fungal spores are released into the air.

If you inhale these spores, they can infect your lungs, causing Histoplasmosis.

• Symptoms: Fever, cough, fatigue, chills, and chest pain (often mistaken for the flu or pneumonia).
• Severity: For most healthy adults, it’s mild. But for children, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system, it can spread to other organs and be fatal.
• Eye Infections: A related condition, Ocular Histoplasmosis, can cause vision loss.

Safe Cleanup Protocol

If you have a small amount of droppings (a few scattered pellets), you can clean it carefully. If you have piles or a carpet of guano, hire a professional.

If you must do it yourself, follow these strict rules:

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Never enter a contaminated attic without protection.

• Respirator: You MUST wear a NIOSH-approved respirator rated N95 or higher. A simple dust mask or surgical mask provides NO protection against fungal spores.
• Suit: Wear a disposable Tyvek suit with a hood.
• Gloves: Rubber or latex gloves.
• Goggles: Eye protection to prevent spores from entering tear ducts.

2. Dampen the Waste

This is the most critical step. Never touch dry guano.

• Use a spray bottle to mist the droppings with water or a disinfectant.
• This weighs down the spores so they cannot fly into the air when disturbed.

3. Scrape, Don’t Sweep

• Use a flat shovel or scraper to carefully lift the damp waste.
• Place it gently into heavy-duty plastic garbage bags.
• Seal the bags tightly (gooseneck tie) before removing them from the attic.

4. Disinfect

Once the bulk waste is removed, scrub the area with a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) or a commercial enzyme cleaner designed for biological waste. This kills remaining bacteria and helps break down organic residue.

5. Insulation Removal

If the guano is on top of insulation, the insulation cannot be cleaned. It must be removed. The spores are embedded in the fibers. We use industrial vacuums located outside the house to suck out contaminated insulation without dragging it through your living space.

When to Call a Pro

If the infestation was large enough to create piles of guano, the risk of exposure is too high for a DIY project. Critter Removal of Louisville offers professional attic restoration services. We remove the biohazard, sanitize the space, and install fresh, clean insulation, ensuring your home is safe and energy-efficient again.