How to Get Rid of Bats in a House

Bats are mysterious creatures preceded by many fears and misconceptions. With more than 1,400 species worldwide, bats are actually incredibly beneficial to a balanced ecosystem but have been known at times to cause interior pest issues. It can be difficult to pinpoint whether the pest activity you're noticing has been caused by bats. How do you determine if you have bats in your house or not? What if you know for sure that you have bats inside but you can't get rid of them?

Part of the order Chiroptera, bats are not inherently destructive, but their waste is high in uric acid which makes it corrosive; it is also incredibly stinky, especially when it piles up on absorbent interior insulation. When large amounts of corrosive bat waste pile up over time, it can compromise a variety of materials and structures.

What Do Bats Look Like?

If you can catch a glimpse of them, bats have noticeably scalloped wings and an incredibly distinct way of flying. They are most active at dusk, which can make them difficult to see outside, especially because of their dark coloring. Outside, they are most easily detected by the sounds they make.

There are more than 1,400 bat species worldwide and more than 40 species of bats throughout the United States. When it comes to bats living inside structures, if you live in the U.S. your bat is likely one of three culprits:

1. The big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
2. The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)
3. The Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)

6 Ways to Get Rid of Bats

Bats are an important part of our environment. They are especially good at controlling unmanageable exterior insect issues. A recent study shows that the number of mosquitoes consumed by bats is even higher than what was once thought. When at all possible, it is encouraged that homeowners find ways to live peacefully with bats. If the bats are in your house, you want to get them out and if they are around your house, you want to find out how to keep them outside where they should be.

Install a One-Way Door

A one-way door is a tool that allows the bat to leave but blocks it from re-entering. These can be incredibly helpful in avoiding a particularly stinky situation. If an entry point is sealed up with a bat or other animal inside and it cannot get out, the animal is likely to die inside, causing a serious smell issue. While this smell should go away on its own in about 1 to 2 weeks, a one way door helps prevent this issue.

Seal Entry Points

If bats are getting into your attic space or other areas, start by finding where they are entering and sealing it up. Try to let the bats leave before sealing the hole, as this will make sure they don't die inside.

When finding entry points for bats, it is best to perform an interior attic inspection as well as an exterior roof inspection to determine if there are any holes that need to be closed up or roost spots that need to be addressed. Make sure all vents, flashing, and the areas around your chimney are sealed. If you think you've found an entry point, look around the entrance of the hole for greasy residue and discoloration, also called 'grease trails.' This can indicate bats or rodents are entering, so make sure to be thorough with your inspection to determine what you're dealing with.

Reduce Exterior Food and Water Sources

Bats love to eat insects. By making sure your exterior lights are off at night, this will help reduce the surrounding insect population and can help reduce bat activity. Bats are also attracted to bird nectar feeders and standing water they can use to get a drink. Reduce these attractants, and you will reduce the chances of a bat setting up camp on your property.

Hang a Bat Box

There's no denying how beneficial bats can be, especially when it comes to reducing insects such as mosquitoes. It may seem contrary to your goal of getting rid of bats, but once you seal the bats out of your attic space, consider building or purchasing a bat box (or five!) for your bat friends. You can reap the benefits of a smaller nuisance insect population and the surrounding bats will be less likely to try and enter your home when they have such a favorable spot available to them.

Use Bat Repellents

There are a number of bat repellents on the market including essential oil pouches and ultrasonic devices. Repellent solutions can be hit or miss. Know that these solutions can involve a lot of work and money with varied results. When possible, it is recommended that you keep the bats around and focus primarily on sealing them out of interior spaces, not using repellents.

Signs of Bats in Your House

If you happen to have a bat flying around your living space all of a sudden, quickly open the doors and windows to help direct the bat outside. The bat is likely young and did not mean to enter your living space. It just wants to make its way outdoors, where it will spend its time hunting nuisance insects such as mosquitoes.

If you suspect bats are roosting (hanging out) in your home, there are a number of indications to look for. When inspecting for bat activity, keep your eyes and ears open for the following:

• Visual confirmation of bats leaving your house at dusk (typically from the eaves, roof or attic)
• Interior sounds such as scratching or squeaking inside the attic space
• Exterior sounds, particularly small, high-pitched chirping sounds right around sunset
• Accumulation of droppings inside and outside, especially underneath suspected hang-out spots
• Stains and a distinctly strong odor inside, especially in and around attic insulation

Unfortunately, many signs of bat activity are similar to those of other pests such as rodents, birds, and other wildlife. Unless you see the pest itself, thorough inspection will likely be needed in order to confirm which pest you are dealing with.

Inspecting for Bats Around Your House

First, park a chair outside your home right around dusk. Sit and listen for the classic, high-pitched squeaking noise bats make while using their echo-location to hunt. If bats are around, you can often see them swooping around in the twilight while they seek out insects. Watch for them leaving from your roof, attic, or eaves. If you see bats leaving your house, be prepared to perform a thorough inspection or find a local Integrated Pest Management Specialist to help.

If you're going to attempt your own bat inspection, make sure you're prepared for what it will entail.

To perform a bat inspection, you will need:

• Proper PPE
• A good quality headlamp or flashlight that clips to a hat, leaving your hands free for climbing
• A ladder

It may sound silly, but you're also going to need some confidence in your abilities. After all, you must be safe at all times. While performing your inspection, it is very unlikely that you will be mauled by some sort of wildlife, but you will be on a ladder, and you must understand that if you're looking for bats you very well might find them ... or possibly something else.

Be honest with yourself: Do you spook easily? Could you fall off your ladder? Are you afraid of small spaces? If you are not comfortable with bats and critters, ladders/heights, or small spaces, that's OK, but it may be best to get some help from a family member, friend, or pro.

What Causes Bats in a House?

When it comes to managing pests of any kind, consider what conducive conditions are present around your home. A conducive condition is simply any environmental factor that could be attracting the pest (in this case, bats) to your property. Find what conducive conditions are drawing the bats to your home and manipulate those factors to make the environment around your property less desirable to the bats.

Conducive conditions to consider:

1. Water sources: Do you have a fountain, pond, or regularly timed irrigation system that is providing them with water?
2. Food sources: Bats love insects. Are there attractants around your home, such as standing water or exterior lighting at night, that are drawing insects in?
3. Harborage areas: Where are they seeking shelter? Where do they hide during the day?

When to Call a Pro

If you are dealing with a severe bat issue, don't be afraid to call a professional IPM specialist, especially if extensive clean-up is needed. A pro can also help if you are wary of heights or creepy critters.