Bat infestation being expelled from Arkadelphia High School

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The home of the Badgers is currently home to bats. At the latest Arkadelphia School District meeting, the board approved a quote to remove and clean up after an estimated 500 to 1,000 bats within Arkadelphia High School.

Anthony Halpin, who owns and operates That Guy Wildlife Services in Hot Springs, determined the colony is based within a cinderblock wall that borders a classroom and the outside.

“We’ve got to get these out, especially for the kids and everything else, because the guano itself produces a lot of little nasty particles that can cause sickness, especially for people with upper respiratory issues,” Halpin said.

Of all the bat problems Halpin has swooped in to fix, he estimates the Arkadelphia School District’s will be the biggest, primarily due to the smell.

“I’ve had a call before where I was inside and actually had the bats flying around me and everything, and there was probably five to six hundred in that one, but the smell wasn’t as pungent as this,” Halpin stated.

Arkadelphia High School staff driven batty by the smell said there had been a couple of bat sightings during the school year. However, the smell of guano (bat feces) intensified over Summer, according to District Director of Support Services Jimmy King.

“One at a time showed up in the building at different places, in the hallways, cafeteria, one at a classroom,” King described.

King said a previous pest company could not locate where the bats were coming in, but Halpin’s inspection discovered several gaps along the roof and drainpipes that are giving bats access. 

Halpin said the cinderblock wall housing the colony is a popular spot for pests.

“They look pretty on the outside, keep everything out, but if everything is not matched up, bats or other kinds of animals can crawl in them and make their homes, and it’s perfect for them,” Halpin said.

The process to expel the bats is expected to begin this weekend and last three to six weeks. The work will start with preventive sealing of the field house and the middle school. 

Once ensuring the bats don’t have another potential home, Halpin can install one-way doors for the bats in the high school and seal off the building.

An enzyme spray will break down guano, preventing the need to demolish a wall or harm any protected bats.

“I’m going to make sure I do get it done before the school year. I’ve got a child with upper respiratory issues. With that, it really strikes close to home,” Halpin said.

Halpin quoted the project to cost $45,5000 – $47,500, but he told the district he would subtract 25% from the total, essentially giving a $11,875 donation to the school district.