How can I remove bats in my house attic?
Key Takeaways
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Tiny Intruders: Bats can squeeze through dime-sized gaps, commonly using rooflines, vents, and uncapped chimneys to get inside.
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Humane Removal Only: The only legal and effective way to remove bats is through exclusion, which lets them fly out but blocks them from getting back in.
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Timing Is Everything: Never remove bats during maternity season (May to mid-August), as flightless pups could be left behind to die.
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Guano Dangers: Bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, a serious lung infection. Always use professional-grade protective gear for cleanup.
Question: I have bats in the attic. What is the best way to remove them?
Question: I bought this house, and it has bats in the living area. Can you help? I know they are protected, but I would like to keep my wife.
Can You Get Rid of Bats in the Attic Yourself?
Thinking about handling a bat problem yourself? You might want to think twice. Unlike most pests, many bat species are protected under state and federal law. There are no pesticides registered to control bats, and using chemicals to harm them can be illegal. On top of that, handling bats or disturbing their droppings without the right equipment can expose you to rabies and respiratory disease.
The good news? Bats aren't trying to ruin your life. In fact, they're excellent at controlling insects. A single bat can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in a night. The goal isn't to harm them. It's to politely show them the door and make sure they can't waltz back in.
How Do Bats Get into the Attic?
Bats don't chew or claw their way inside. They simply find openings that already exist and they don't need much. A gap the size of a dime is plenty. Common entry points include:
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Gaps along the roofline or eaves
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Cracks in fascia boards or soffits
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Loose or missing shingles
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Uncapped chimneys
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Openings for vents or wiring
Attics check every box on a bat's wish list: dark, quiet, warm, and dry. That's why they're a favorite spot for roosting and especially for raising young.
Signs You Have Bats in Your Attic
Bats are sneaky, but they leave clues. Keep an eye out for:
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Droppings (guano): Small, dark pellets about the size of a grain of rice, often piling up below entry points or in the attic.
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Noises: Squeaking, scratching, or fluttering sounds, especially at dusk and dawn.
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Stains: Dark, greasy rub marks around entry points, left behind by the oils in their fur.
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Odor: A strong, ammonia-like smell from accumulated guano and urine.
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Sightings: Bats flying out from your roofline at dusk are a dead giveaway.
How to Get Rid of Bats in the Attic
The safest, most effective, and most humane method is exclusion. This process involves letting bats out of your home while preventing them from returning. Here's how exclusion generally works.
1. Inspect and Identify Entry Points The first step is figuring out how the bats are getting in. Watching your home at dusk, when bats leave to feed, is a great way to spot active entry and exit points.
2. Mind the Maternity Season This part is critical. Bats form "nursery colonies" in spring and early summer, where females raise their young. These pups can't fly for several weeks, which means sealing up the attic during this time would trap them inside.
Bat removal should generally be avoided from May until mid-August. The best window for exclusion is typically late summer or fall, with sealing done between September and February. Timing varies by region and species, so check with your local Fish and Game department for specifics.
3. Install One-Way Exclusion Devices Once it's safe to proceed, one-way devices like special tubes or netting are placed over active entry points. These devices allow bats to exit but prevent them from re-entering the structure.
4. Seal Everything Up After confirming all the bats have left, every gap, crack, and opening gets sealed with durable materials. Miss a single spot, and your bats may find their way back in.
5. Clean Up Safely Bats leave behind guano and urine that can carry mites, bat bugs, and fungal spores linked to respiratory illness. Cleanup should always be done with proper protective equipment. Treating the site with a residual insecticide helps eliminate any lingering pests, and gently dampening droppings before removal reduces the risk of inhaling spores.
Why Call a Professional for Bat Control?
Bat removal looks deceptively simple. With legal protections, strict removal timelines, and serious health risks from their droppings, a DIY attempt can quickly go wrong. A wildlife control professional knows how to navigate local regulations, can safely handle exclusion and cleanup, and has the expertise to make sure the bats are gone for good.
Contact your local Orkin Branch Office for more information on wildlife control and restrictions on bat control measures. Schedule a free wildlife control inspection to see how Orkin can help with bat removal in your area.
More Wildlife Management Resources
Most bats in the U.S. eat insects like mosquitoes, moths, and beetles, consuming large quantities each night to support their energy needs.
Raccoons frequently enter attics through roof damage and use homes as shelter while feeding on nearby food sources like garbage. Preventing access to food and sealing entry points helps reduce repeat activity.
Squirrels can access roofs by climbing structures and will remain active in areas with available food and shelter. Trimming branches, removing food sources, and sealing openings helps reduce activity and prevent entry into the home.
Repeated raccoon activity on roofs can signal easy access to shelter or nesting areas around the home. Securing entry points and reducing access to food sources helps limit activity and prevent potential damage.