What Sounds Do Bats Make?

Small, nocturnal mammals, and bats use echolocation to find their food. They like to roost in groups, and their ability to fly allows them to gather in attics, chimneys, barns, and sheds. Since these spaces offer protection from the elements and access to insects, infestations are common.

Bat Noises

Bats make sounds that are two or three times higher than humans can hear. When bats use echolocation, humans are only sometimes able to make out very quiet clicks. Slowed down, the clicks are chirps with a distinct tonal progression.

Though bat sounds are nearly impossible to hear outdoors, the noises of echolocation can be detected inside insulated homes. When there’s a large enough bat colony in your attic, you can hear them.

Additionally, residents may hear scratching and flapping sounds made by bats trapped inside attics or other areas of the home.

Bat Sounds at Night

Residents most often hear bat sounds at night or in the early morning when the pests are either leaving or returning from their food search. The noises people can hear result from bats’ movements. As flying mammals, bats make fluttering noises with their wings. They also use their wings as hands to climb and crawl, so homeowners may hear scratching on walls.

Not a bat in the attic? Listen to animal in attic sound guide

Bat Control & Removal

Infestations of bats are problematic because the pests spread diseases and damage property. For example, they knock things down while flying and defecate all over homes. The pests may carry rabies, and their droppings facilitate the growth of histoplasmosis. Hearing bat noises in the house should prompt homeowners to contact wildlife control as soon as possible. The trained professionals at Critter Control can remove bats efficiently and safely.