Any home inspector who has been around for a time has at least one. No not flashlights or ladders, all though that would be true, I'm speaking of stories of critters found in the attic. Some inspectors have been scarred for life by these wildlife encounters, most have shrugged off the run in as an every day possibility of the job.
When home inspectors talk about animals in attic, they do not speak of the usual residents of the rafters, spiders, mice and assorted insects. However bees and hornets are in a class all their own. We talk of encounters with the weird and unusual.
Take for example the ferret I ran across one time.The scurrying of this friendly little guy, scared the bejesus out of me. I thought at first it was an opossum, not someone's pet.
Recently while inspecting an attic, I had turned to begin making my way back to the scuttle entry. As I peered down the length of the hall created by the trusses, my way partially lit by the diffused sunlight thorough the gable vent, I became aware of anomaly in the outline of the opening. Curious I kept a eye on the irregularity as I moved toward the entry.
As I arrived at the entry (escape hatch?), I looked over at the vent once again. I could no see a distinct outline that had...
ears!
It was then I realized this incongruity in the lines of the vent was a dozing bat. I then did what any self respecting home inspector would do, I took a picture.
Fortunately this little guy it turns out was on the outside of the attic. His access prevented by the screen over the vent. While this encounter was some what unusual, it wasn't very fright inducing, that will surely come another day. The scary part is I will never know when.
James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
Former SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
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