How To Get Rid of Bats in Your Attic

Bats represent one of the most challenging issues in wildlife control. They pose serious health risks, such as histoplasmosis and rabies, and their colonies can create irritating noises and cause significant damage to our homes. In fact, bats are responsible for around seven in ten rabies deaths in people throughout the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control. Although most bats in the United States are not rabid, it is important to take the threat seriously because contact with wildlife, such as bats or raccoons, can transmit rabies to humans.

Additionally, bat guano, commonly known as bat poop, can transmit dangerous diseases such as histoplasmosis to humans. Histoplasmosis is a type of infection that occurs after humans breathe in spores typically found in animal droppings. This usually takes place after bats are removed and homeowners are cleaning up the remaining bat droppings. For many people, histoplasmosis doesn’t develop symptoms. However, it can be severe in infants or those with compromised immune systems. If you develop flu-like symptoms after exposure to bat guano, immediately contact your doctor. 

Knowing these risks, it’s important to take steps to remove bats from your attic.

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How To Get Rid of Bats in Your Attic 

If you’ve found bats in your attic, you’ll want to take quick action to get rid of bats in the attic. Please note that it is illegal to poison bats in most states because of their essential role in the ecosystem. Here are ways to get rid of bats in your attic and home. 

• Use a bat excluder. A bat excluder covers entryway holes that bats use to enter your home. The excluder turns this hole into a one-way door that bats can only use to exit your home and not enter it. This method will only be effective if you’ve already sealed off other entry points, since bats can squeeze through tight areas. I recommend installing the excluder at a downward angle so it’s easier for bats to exit. Once the bats are gone, remove the excluder and seal off the entry point. 

• Install a bat alarm. Bat alarms create unpleasant noises that scare off bats. Try using one of these to scare bats away from your home. As an alternative option, you can use a white noise machine, which can scare off many species of bats. 

• Use natural smells to scare bats away. Bats are repelled by a variety of scents, such as peppermint and spearmint oils. There are products on the market, such as Bat Magic, that you can purchase. Another DIY option is use a solution of peppermint and spearmint oils. Spray this around your home and attic.  

• Install bat netting. Hang a piece of netting up where bats are entering and exiting your home. Hang it about a foot below their exit point so bats can escape your home but can’t re-enter. Use tape to secure the top and sides, but leave the bottom free to allow bats to exit your home. 

• Treat for existing pests. If you have a spider or mosquito problem, you must treat this problem before treating for bats. Many species of bats eat bugs and will stick around happily if they find an easy food source. 

• Replace torn window screens. Bats are crafty and can enter your home in a variety of ways. Examine your window screens, roofing, and the exterior of your home for holes and gaps. Then, replace or repair these holes to prevent bats from entering and creating a bat colony. 

• Turn off or dim lights around your home. Bright lights can cause bats to stop their activity at night and disorient them, causing them to hide rather than exit your home. Bright lights also attract bugs, which are a food source for many bats. 

• Contact a wildlife removal expert. If you have a large colony of bats, it’s best to save yourself the headache and prevent these unwanted house guests from damaging your home further. Bats can be dangerous to remove. It is worth the investment to contact a pest control company in your area. 

If you have baby bats, i strongly recommend contacting a local wildlife control or pest control expert. Baby bats are illegal to remove in many areas and may be difficult to trap due to their small size. If they escape into your walls, they could die, leading to a disgusting stench. 

How To Keep Bats Out of Your Attic 

After successfully removing bats from your attic, take preventative measures to prevent bats from returning. Preventing their reentry safeguards your home from potential damage caused by bat colonies. It also mitigates the health risks associated with bat guano, such as histoplasmosis. Maintaining a bat-free attic keeps your home free from the disturbances caused by bat activity and eliminates the need for future costly removal efforts.

Here are bat-proofing measures to prevent bats from returning to your home. 

• Seal off entry points. Examine your attic and home for entry points that critters may use to enter your home. Use a caulking or sealant product to fill these holes and gaps so pests cannot enter your home. Bats can fly through holes as small as half an inch, so you’ll have to be meticulous with your examination to make sure you don’t miss any entry points. 

• Introduce natural enemies. Bats have many natural enemies, such as owls. Purchase a fake, plastic owl and place it near your roof or attic, anywhere that is high up and easy to see. This will make sure that bats roosting near your home see the owl and steer clear. I recommend switching the owl’s placement several times a year to keep the bats scared. 

• Keep your doors and windows closed. This is a crucial tip to follow, especially at night when bats are most active. Also, regularly double-check that your window and door screens are not damaged to prevent bats from entering through holes or gaps in the screens. 

• Change your outdoor light bulbs. Pests, including bats, are attracted to bright light. Try changing your outdoor light bulbs to yellow ones. This will also attract fewer bugs, decreasing bats’ natural food source. 

• Install wire mesh coverings in strategic areas of your home. Bats are attracted to chimneys, attics, and furnace vents. If you have any of these, install a wire mesh covering over this area to prevent bats from entering and roosting in this area. 

Signs You Have Bats in Your Attic  

Bat pups are typically born between late April and early June, so female bats often seek shelter in dark, enclosed spaces — such as caves and attics — to give birth to their pups. During this time, you will be unable to use bat removal techniques because pups cannot fly, and exclusion techniques will leave them parent-less and unable to leave your home. 

Signs you have bats in your attic: 

• Strong, pungent smells of guano or urine
• Chirping and squeaking noises, especially during early dawn and dusk hours
• Seeing increased numbers of bats
• Scratching noises
• Finding a dead bat
• Finding a bat in your home
• Scratches on your walls

Causes of a bat infestation: 

• Breeding season — typically between April and June
• Other pest infestations, such as mosquitoes, which may attract bats
• Abundant food sources, including beetles, bugs, fruit trees, etc. 
• Time of year and weather — bats will hibernate when the temperatures drop to around 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit

How Bats Get Inside  

Bats are crafty creatures that can enter through small spaces, often only needing an area the size of a half-inch to enter your home. This makes bat exclusion difficult. However, exclusion devices such as bat repellents and bat cones can help you protect your home from these critters. 

Common ways that bats get inside your home: 

• Gaps in your roof — through missing shingles or cracks 
• Holes in your window or door screens
• Gaps in house framing
• Chimneys
• Furnace vents
• Open windows or doors
• Gaps between walls and bricks
• Following cold air currents into your attic, sheds, or barns

Final Thoughts 

Bats are dangerous wild animals that can transmit various hazardous diseases through their saliva, bites, and bat guano. While you can take a do-it-yourself bat control approach, bat exclusion can be dangerous when performed by the average person. I recommend reaching out to a local wildlife control expert if you’re concerned about your safety. Doing this will remove bats safely and keep you and your family healthy. 

A wildlife control expert may also offer bat guano cleanup, which is an important step in bat control because bat guano can transmit diseases to you and your family. Bat guano cleanup requires using protective equipment, such as a respirator, for the safety of the person cleaning. To avoid danger, I recommend having professionals handle this task.