Getting rid of bats in your home isn’t as simple as calling an exterminator. Since bats are legally protected in most states, pest control companies use exclusion techniques—sealing entry points and installing one-way exit devices—to remove them safely.
Most homeowners pay between $400 and $1,500 for professional bat removal, with costs depending on the size of the infestation and whether cleanup is needed. A small attic colony may cost around $400 to $600, while a larger infestation requiring guano cleanup and sealing multiple entry points can exceed $1,500. In rare cases, major infestations in large buildings or historic homes can push costs as high as $9,000.
If you suspect bats in your home, act fast. Their droppings (guano) can harbor harmful fungi, and bats can carry diseases like rabies. In this guide, we’ll break down bat removal costs, signs of infestation, health risks, and what to expect from a professional bat exclusion service.
If trying to exterminate bats on your own becomes too challenging, we recommend Orkin, Terminix, and Aptive. These exterminators have some of the best-trained professionals that are able to use traps, baits, and other chemically treated solutions that are often more effective than standard DIY methods.
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What Affects the Cost of Bat Removal?
The cost of removing bats varies based on a few key factors, including the size of the infestation, cleanup needs, and whether other pests are present.
1. Size of the Infestation
The number of bats in your home is the biggest cost factor. A single bat or small colony (fewer than 10 bats) might cost $400 to $600 to remove, while larger infestations with dozens or even hundreds of bats can exceed $1,500. Severe cases that require sealing multiple entry points or specialized attic restoration may push costs even higher.
2. Other Pest Infestations
Bats often bring other pests with them, which can increase costs. If your home has rodents, fleas, or termites alongside bats, you may need additional pest control services:
- Rodent & wildlife removal: $150–$800
- Flea extermination: $150–$500
- Termite treatment: $400–$5,000+
3. Removal Method
Since bats are legally protected in most states, extermination is not an option. Instead, professionals use bat exclusion techniques—installing one-way doors or netting that lets bats leave but prevents reentry. This process costs more if multiple entry points need sealing.
4. Cleanup & Repairs
Removing bats is just one part of the process—cleaning up bat guano (droppings) and sealing entry points is often more expensive than removal itself. Bat guano is hazardous, carrying fungi that can cause respiratory illness. Guano cleanup and attic restoration can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000, depending on severity. In some cases, attic insulation may need to be replaced, increasing costs.
5. Homeowners Insurance
Some insurance policies cover bat removal and guano cleanup, but many do not. Contact your provider to see if your policy includes coverage for wildlife damage. Many policies will provide some coverage for bat removal, which can be a great way to be reimbursed for part of the bat removal cost.
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Signs You Have a Bat Infestation
Bats can squeeze into small openings as tiny as one-half inch, making attics, chimneys, and wall voids ideal hiding spots. While a single bat in your home may just be lost, repeated sightings often mean a colony has taken up residence.
Here’s how to tell if bats are living in your home:
- Strange Noises at Night – Bats are most active at dusk and dawn, often making chirping, fluttering, or scratching sounds in walls or ceilings. Unlike rodents, you won’t hear chewing or scurrying.
- Bat Droppings (Guano) – Guano piles up near entry points like window sills, attics, and chimneys. It looks like dark, crumbling pellets and often accumulates in large quantities.
- Strong Ammonia Smell – Bat urine and guano produce a strong, musty odor, similar to ammonia, that worsens over time.
- Yellowish Stains – Bat urine can leave stains on walls and ceilings, especially in attics.
- Frequent Bat Sightings – If you see bats flying near your home every evening, they may be roosting inside.
- Dead Bats – Finding dead bats inside or outside is a sign of an established colony.
Since bats help control insect populations, they’re protected in many states. No pesticides are legally approved to eliminate bats, so professional exclusion is the only safe and legal method of removal.
Health Risks of a Bat Infestation
Bats aren’t aggressive and don’t seek out human contact, but having them in your home can pose serious health risks:
Rabies Risk
While fewer than 1% of bats carry rabies, the virus is fatal if left untreated. Rabies spreads through bites or scratches, and even handling a dead bat can expose you to infection. If you or a pet comes into contact with a bat, seek medical attention immediately.
Histoplasmosis from Bat Guano
Bat droppings (guano) can grow dangerous fungal spores, which cause histoplasmosis—a lung infection that leads to fever, cough, and fatigue. While mild cases aren’t serious, infants, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk.
Never attempt to handle bats, dead or alive. If a bat is inside your home, call a professional for safe removal. Even a small scratch can expose you to disease.
DIY Vs. Hiring a Professional
Bat removal is not a DIY job. Because bats are protected by law in most states, removal requires specialized techniques—and attempting to remove them yourself could lead to legal trouble, ineffective results, or exposure to health risks.
Why DIY Bat Removal Doesn’t Work
- No approved bat repellents – Many over-the-counter sprays and deterrents aren’t certified or effective.
- Health hazards – Bats carry rabies and histoplasmosis, making direct contact dangerous.
- Legal restrictions – Some bat species are protected under federal or state law, and killing them is illegal.
Why You Should Hire a Professional
Licensed wildlife control experts use a process called bat exclusion, which involves:
- Inspecting your home to locate the bats’ entry points.
- Installing one-way exit devices that allow bats to leave but not return.
- Sealing off entry points to prevent future infestations.
- Cleaning guano and sanitizing affected areas to eliminate health risks.
Recommended Bat Removal Companies
- Terminix – Provides full bat exclusion services, including sealing entry points, removing bats, and sanitizing affected areas.
- Orkin – Specializes in humane bat removal and prevention, ensuring compliance with local laws.
If you suspect a bat infestation, calling a professional is the safest and most effective option.
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How Professionals Remove Bats
If you have bats in your attic or home, a professional will follow a humane bat exclusion process to remove them safely and prevent future infestations.
1. Inspection
A wildlife control specialist will inspect your home for signs of bats, including:
- Droppings (guano) near entry points
- Strong ammonia odors from urine and guano buildup
- Noises at dusk or dawn, such as chirping or fluttering
- Visible bat entry points around the roof, chimney, or attic vents
2. Bat Exclusion Process
Since bats are legally protected, extermination isn’t an option. Instead, professionals use one-way bat exclusion devices, such as nets or bat tubes, which:
- Allow bats to exit but prevent them from reentering
- Force the entire colony to leave over time as they search for food
- Ensure a humane removal process without harming the bats
3. Cleanup and Sanitization
Once the bats are gone, professionals will remove bat guano and sanitize affected areas. Guano carries fungal spores that cause histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease. They’ll also replace contaminated attic insulation. if necessary, and seal off entry points to prevent bats from returning.
4. Treating for Other Pests
Bats often carry mites, fleas, and other insects. Many professionals recommend:
- Residual insecticide treatments to eliminate mites and fleas left behind.
- Mosquito control services, since mosquitoes are a primary food source for bats.
- Rodent and termite inspections, as these pests often cohabitate with bats.
Preventing Future Bat Infestations
To keep bats away, homeowners can seal entry points with wire mesh or caulk, use natural repellents like cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, and peppermint oils, and reduce insect populations by eliminating standing water and using insecticides.
By following these steps, professionals ensure a safe, legal, and permanent solution for bat problems.
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