How to Remove Bats from Your House

Bats are fascinating creatures, but they can also be a nuisance and quite dangerous when they get inside your house. If you have bats in your home, it is important to remove them immediately. Fortunately, there are several methods to remove a bat from your home safely and humanely.

It is possible to do it yourself if you are up for it, but keep in mind that you’ll need the appropriate protective gear. In this guide, we will discuss how to get rid of bats using a variety of methods. We will also provide some tips on how to prevent bats from entering your home in the first place.

What Are Bats?

Bats are black, winged mammals that belong to the order Chiroptera. Interestingly, they are the only mammals that can fly. There are over 900 species of bats, and they can be found all over the world.

Bats play an essential role in our ecosystem by eating insects. They also pollinate flowers and disperse seeds. Bats are nocturnal animals, meaning they are active at night.

Why Do You Need to Get Rid of Bats?

Because bats can be a nuisance when they start living in your house, they may leave droppings on your furniture or in your food. They can also damage your property by chewing through wires or insulation.

In addition, bats can carry diseases like rabies and Histoplasmosis. It is important to remove them from your home safely and humanely to protect your family and pets.

What Type Of Bats is in My Home?

The type of bat in your home will determine the best way to remove it. It can be a scary and unwelcome experience as a homeowner to stumble across a bat in your home. While it may be difficult to tell the difference between types of bats from a quick eye examination, there are several distinctions between the sorts of bats that get into houses.

There are three main types of bats in the United States:

The Big Brown Bat

(Eptesicus fuscus) is a common species that live in attics and other buildings. They weigh between 12 and 16 grams and have a wingspan of about 11 inches.

The Little Brown Bat

(Myotis lucifugus) is typical and lives in attics, sheds, and other buildings. They weigh between four and five grams and have a wingspan of about eight inches.

The Mexican Free-Tailed Bat

(Tadarida brasiliensis) is the most common in North America. They live in caves, barns, and other buildings. They weigh between five and ten grams and have a wingspan of about 12 inches.

Why Do Bats Enter Homes?

Bats may enter homes for a variety of reasons. They may be looking for a place to roost, or they may be seeking refuge from the cold. Some bats may also mistake your home for a cave. Bats are a common visitor to the construction site, but they rarely fly over or notice minor cracks or gaps on taller structures.

A 1/2-inch crack in a masonry junction 30 or 40 feet off the ground becomes a superhighway for bats to enter a structure. Since they are nocturnal and, for the most part, very quiet animals, they often use attics for years before the odor from the build-up of droppings alerts us to their presence.

Where Do Bats Come From?

The most common place to find bats is in a roost. A roost is a location where bats gather to rest during the day or give birth and raise their young. Some species of bats will hibernate in a roost during the winter.

Bats can also be found in caves, under bridges, construction sites, rock crevices, old buildings, mines, and trees. They may also enter your home through cracks and holes in the roof or walls.

Are Bats Harmful?

Bats are not typically harmful to humans as they are not interested in hurting humans. However, they may carry rabies, which can be very dangerous. Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the nervous system. It is vital to get vaccinated for rabies immediately after getting bitten or scratched by a bat.

Additionally, accorded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bat feces can contaminate soil and cause Histoplasmosis.

All healthy bats do their best to avoid humans by flying away and are not intentionally violent. Bats generally range from the size of a mouse to a little larger, with tiny teeth and feeble jaws for grinding insects. Bats should not be handled due to the fact that several species, such as the hoary and big brown bats, have large teeth that can puncture skin if handled incorrectly.

How Do You Know If You Have Bats?

If you think you have bats in your home, there are several signs to look for. Bats are typically active at night, so if you see a bat flying around during the day, it is most likely that it has lost its way and needs help finding its way back out.

You can also look for droppings or urine stains. Bats typically excrete their droppings in small amounts, so you may not see it right away. But if you do find droppings, they will be dark brown or black and have a strong ammonia smell.

How to Remove Bats From Your House Safely

If you have bats in your home, it is essential to remove them safely. Before attempting any do-it-yourself measures, keep in mind that some states have laws protecting bats, so if you injure or kill them, you could have a larger problem on your hands.

Here are a few methods for removing bats from your home:

Call a professional

The method we most recommend is to call a removal professional. The removal process can put you or your loved ones at risk, and it’s best to hand the job over to someone who knows how to safely remove them from your house.

Use a bat net

A bat net is a large net that can be used to catch bats. You can purchase a bat net online or at your local hardware store. Be sure to wear thick gloves and goggles when doing this. This is a tricky solution, especially when the creature’s really big. While doing it, be very careful when closing the top of the net in order not to crush the bat. Bring it outside and release it.

Seal up cracks and holes

You can seal up any small openings around your home to prevent bats from entering.

Install a bat house nearby

This will provide a place for the bats to live that is not your house.

Use a humane trap

Use this to catch the bats and release them elsewhere.

Use a blanket or towel

Smother the animal in a blanket or towel. Simply drape it over the bat and twist it up before releasing it outside. They have fragile bones, so be careful not to harm them in any way.

Bats are an important part of our ecosystem, but they can also be a nuisance when they set up camp in our homes. Use one of the methods listed above to get them out of your house quickly and efficiently.

How Can I Prevent Bats from Invading My House for Good?

Bats are a vital part of our ecosystem, but that doesn’t mean we want them living in our homes. There are a few things you can do to prevent bats from invading your house:

Seal up cracks and holes: You can seal up cracks and holes in your home to prevent bats from getting into them.
Keep all your doors and windows shut: Bats can fly through very small spaces, so make sure all your doors and windows are closed to keep them out.
Put a wire mesh covering over your chimney: This will prevent bats from entering your chimney.
Mothballs and dog repellent: Put mothballs in the area the bats are inhabiting and spray dog repellent as well. Mothballs and dog repellents will not harm bats, but they will make your home smell unpleasant to them.

These tips will prevent bats from invading your house and causing any damage or nuisance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main problem with trapping bats?

The main problem with trapping bats is that many states have regulations about trapping and relocating them. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up harming the bat or violating state laws.

Where do bats mainly live in the world?

Bats can be found worldwide, but they are most common in tropical and subtropical areas.

What should I do if a bat lands on me?

If a bat lands on you, don’t panic. Stay calm and use a towel or blanket to place it in a box gently.

Do vampire bats really exist?

No, vampire bats do not exist. They are mythological creatures.

Bats can be a nuisance when they invade our homes, but there are ways to remove them safely and humanely. Use one of the methods listed above to get bats out of your house quickly and then take steps to keep them from entering your home again.