Because there are restrictions on how to humanely and legally remove bats from your home, the best way to get rid of bats is with a bat valve.
Attics have many characteristics that make them an ideal home for bats. Along with people encroaching on their natural habitats through the building of new neighborhoods, roads, and shopping areas, bats in attics have become a common problem for homeowners.
There are six species of bats that are federally protected. It is a federal violation to use chemicals, including insecticides, rodenticides, disinfectants, and mothballs, to kill bats. Most states have restrictions on when bats can be removed. Most states have further regulations on when bat removal should happen.
Many people don’t realize that bats play an important role in Earth’s ecosystem. They pollinate over 500 plant species, including agave, bananas, mangoes, and cacti, and spread seeds for many other crucial plants. In addition, a single bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour, making bats a highly effective natural insecticide.
Unfortunately, when bats roost in attics, they cause damage and pose health risks. There are no fast or easy DIY methods for how to get rid of bats. However, a wildlife removal company such as Critter Control can remove bats naturally and effectively.
Signs of Bats in Your Home
You might not see bats, but there are signs of their presence if you know what to look for, such as:
- Bat guano (feces) piles
- Attic
- Decks or Porches
- Window Sills
- Noises
- Squeaking
- Scratching
- Chirping sounds
- Rub marks
- Siding
- Vents
- Entry Points.
- Strong ammonia odor
- Attic
- Living areas
- Bat activity at their entry points. If you suspect bats, you might be able to spot them leaving if you watch your roofline at dusk.
Why Bats Love Attics
Depending on the time of year, bats are either in your attic to give birth or to hibernate. Bats typically give birth in May or June, with some species roosting in large maternity colonies. In winter, some bats hibernate.
There are many reasons why bats may choose attics over their natural habitats in trees and caves. Attics mimic some of a bat’s natural habitat. They are elevated, dark, and undisturbed. Attics have some additional characteristics that bats like, such as warm, stable temperatures, dryness, and protection from rain. Attics make ideal places for maternity colonies because high temperatures are needed for the rapid development of their young.
How Bats Get Into Your Home
Unlike other types of nuisance wildlife, like raccoons or squirrels, bats cannot create their own entry points. They only need an opening the size of a dime. Typical bat entry points include:
- Gaps along the roofline or eaves
- Cracks in fascia boards or soffits
- Loose or missing shingles
- Uncapped chimneys
- Openings for ventilation or wiring
Can I Get Rid of Bats On My Own?
Bats are a protected species under the federal Endangered Species Act. Many species are also protected by individual state laws. It is illegal to harm or disturb bats during maternity season, as baby bats, or pups, are completely dependent on their mothers. Bats must be handled in specific, humane ways.
Any homeowner who wants to get rid of bats should know that there is no fast way to do it. First and foremost, you must wait until the right time of year so you do not harm any pups. There are also health risks involved that cannot be taken lightly. Bats carry diseases such as rabies as well as parasites like mites and fleas. Improper cleanup without gloves, a respirator, and eye protection can lead to spore inhalation and the risk of contracting histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease that grows in dark, humid areas with large accumulations of guano. The spores become airborne when guano is disturbed.
Repellents
Bat repellents, substances or devices used to discourage bats, such as mothballs or aluminum foil, are not effective and can be hazardous. Some suggest essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, cinnamon, or cloves will get rid of bats. There is no evidence that strong smells will permanently get rid of bats from your attic.
Habitat Modification
Limiting a bat’s access to food, water, and shelter on your property can help protect your home from bats. Other tactics include:
- Keeping bright lights turned off at night. The lights will attract insects, which are a major food source for bats.
- Floodlights strung in the attic, shining brightly, will make your attic less attractive to bats.
- Bats also drink a lot of water, so minimizing water sources around your property, if possible, is a way to prevent bats and other wildlife from becoming a nuisance.
How Exclusion Safely Gets Rid of Bats
Bat exclusion allows bats to leave a structure while preventing them from reentering. Bat valves are either a tube or netting. Both versions allow the bat to leave harmlessly but prevent its re-entry. The process typically takes 3-7 days. Once the bats are gone, you’ll need to clean up bat guano. You will need to reinspect your attic before removing the bat valve and sealing the hole. Sealing bats inside your attic is inhumane.
Things NOT To Do with Bat Exclusion
- Install the bat valve during the maternity season.
- Ignoring local wildlife regulations.
- Neglecting to seal every gap and giving bats another way inside.
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What are the Health Risks of DIY Bat Removal?
Bats can transmit two serious diseases to people — rabies and histoplasmosis. Exposure to rabid bats is the leading cause of rabies in humans. Getting rabies is incredibly rare. There are 1 to 3 cases reported annually. Simply avoiding contact with a bat will protect you. If you do come in direct contact with a bat, contact your doctor or local public health official immediately. Bat bites are not always detectable. Sometimes they cause no visible marks.
Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease that grows in dark, humid areas with large accumulations of guano. The spores become airborne when guano is disturbed. Attempting to remove bats from your attic or cleaning up guano without the proper protective equipment can put you at risk of histoplasmosis.
How We Get Rid of Bats
During the inspection, a Critter Control wildlife specialist will:
- Identify the bat species
- Locate primary and secondary entry points
- Determine where bats are roosting
- Estimate colony size
- Look for signs of damage or contamination
- Assess potential health and safety concerns
Common Signs of Bat Activity
- Bat droppings (guano) beneath rooflines or entry holes
- Brown or black staining around gaps and openings
- Chirping or squeaking sounds near dusk or dawn
- Strong ammonia-like odors from accumulated guano
- Bats seen flying around the home at sunset
A Critter Control technician carefully examines:
- Roof intersections
- Ridge vents
- Gable vents
- Soffits and fascia boards
- Chimneys
- Dormers
- Flashing gaps
- Construction joints
Bats can enter through surprisingly small openings. Some bat species can squeeze through openings as small as:
- 3/8 inch wide
- 1/2 inch tall
Even tiny gaps must be identified before exclusion begins.
Before installing the one-way exclusion device, Critter Control seals every potential entry point except the primary exits used by the bats.
This step prevents bats from:
- Re-entering after exclusion
- Finding alternative entrances
- Moving deeper into the structure
Common Exclusion Materials
- Metal flashing
- Steel screening
- Professional-grade sealants
- Hardware cloth
- Vent covers
Proper sealing is one of the most important parts of successful bat removal.
Once secondary openings are sealed, Critter Control installs specialized one-way exclusion devices over the active entry points. This device allows bats to ext your attic or chimney harmlessly but prevents their re-entry.
Types of Exclusion Devices
- Flexible exclusion tubes
- Netting systems
- Bat cones
- Custom one-way doors
Proper Timing is Essential and Humane
Installing a bat valve at the wrong time is inhumane and in some states illegal. During the summer, flightless pups can be in your attic. A bat valve will separate the pups from their mother and will result in their death.
If a maternity colony is present, exclusion may be postponed until the young bats are capable of flying.
After the exclusion period, Critter Control performs a follow-up inspection.
Technicians verify:
- No bat activity remains
- No bats are trapped inside
- No new entry points have been created
- The structure is bat-free
The removal process is not complete until all bats have successfully exited.
After confirming the colony is gone, Critter Control permanently closes the remaining primary access points.
This prevents future infestations and keeps bats from returning to the structure.
Permanent repairs may include:
- Replacing damaged building materials
- Installing vent guards
- Repairing soffits and fascia
- Sealing roof gaps
- Upgrading exclusion barriers
Bat colonies can leave behind significant accumulations of guano and urine.
Critter Control may recommend attic remediation services that include:
- Guano removal
- Contaminated insulation removal
- Surface cleaning
- Sanitization
- Odor control treatments
Why Cleanup Is Important
Bat waste can:
- Produce strong odors
- Attract insects
- Damage building materials
- Create unhealthy indoor conditions
Professional cleanup restores the affected space.
The final step is preventing future wildlife issues.
Critter Control may recommend:
- Attic restoration
- Structural repairs
- Vent protection systems
- Wildlife-proofing improvements
- Ongoing inspections
The objective is to make the home resistant to future bat infestations while maintaining the integrity of the structure.
Professional Bat Removal in Attics
Critter Control has over 40 years of experience in the humane, safe eradication of bats from attics. When you need the fastest way to get rid of bats, our highly trained professionals are your answer. No method is fast, but we’ve developed expertise using a bat valve or one-way door that lets bats fly out at dusk but not back in. Sealing all gaps in tandem with this tactic provides the best defense against bats entering attics.
And Critter Control takes their services a step further. We restore damage to rafters and insulation, and completely clean and sanitize the infested area. When you need a comprehensive solution to humanely get rid of bats naturally in your attic, contact Critter Control.
Watch Bats Exit Screen Valve Harmlessly
How to Get Rid of Bats: Frequently Asked Questions
Do not handle it with your bare hands! You should report the dead bat to your local wildlife agency or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to report potential White-nose syndrome. If you need to dispose of the dead bat, wear gloves and pick up the carcass with a plastic bag. Place that bag in another plastic bag. Spray it with disinfectant and place in your garbage can. Wash your hands thoroughly.
Some bats hibernate. If you find bats in the attic between October and March, it’s likely they are hibernating. Do not disturb them! If you wake up hibernating bats during the winter, they’ll fly away to look for food. Generally, there are no bugs during the winter so there is not food supply for the bats.
Whoever you call, make sure they are a licensed wildlife control operator. Bat removal requires careful exclusions and one-way valves. Bat extermination is not legal or humane.
- Baby Bats
- Bat Bites
- Bat Facts & Myths
- Bat Guano – Identification & Removal
- Bat Noises and Sounds
- Bats & Rabies
- Watch How Bat Removal Works
- What to Do if Bats in Homes
- Bats in Chimneys
- Bats in Roofs
- Bats in the Attic
- Bats in Trees
- Bats in Walls
- Dead Bats
- Bat Diet & Feeding Schedule
- Do Bat Deterrents Work?
- How to Get Rid of Bats in Attic
- Is bat exterminating legal?
- Do Bats Hibernate?
- Types of Bats
- What Does a Bat Look Like?
- Bat Habitats and Infestations
- Bat Blindness & Echolocation
