How To Keep Bats Away From Your Home Safely & Naturally

Can I get rid of bats in my attic without harming them? Yes, you can keep bats away from your home safely and naturally through humane exclusion methods and by making your home less attractive to them. This guide will walk you through how to achieve this.

Bats are fascinating creatures, vital to our ecosystem for insect control and pollination. However, when they decide to roost in or around our homes, they can cause concern. From potential noise and droppings to the simple desire for a bat-free living space, many homeowners look for ways to manage these nocturnal visitors. The good news is you don’t need harsh chemicals or harmful methods to address bat issues. This comprehensive guide will explore safe, natural, and humane ways to deter bats and prevent them from returning.

Why Bats Might Visit Your Home

Before we delve into solutions, it’s helpful to understand why bats might choose your property. Bats are looking for safe, dark, and undisturbed places to roost, especially during the day. Common areas include:

Attics: These offer warmth, darkness, and protection from predators.
Soffits and Eaves: Gaps and crevices here provide ideal entry points.
Wall Vents and Chimneys: Openings can lead to sheltered spaces.
Barns and Sheds: Often less disturbed and provide ample roosting sites.
Crevices in Structures: Any small opening can be an invitation.

They are attracted by:

Insects: Bats are voracious insect eaters, so areas with abundant insect populations might draw them in.
Shelter and Warmth: Especially important for maternity colonies raising their young.
Undisturbed Spaces: Places where they feel safe from human or animal interference.

Natural Bat Repellents and Deterrents

Many homeowners prefer natural methods to discourage bats. These approaches aim to make your home less appealing without causing harm.

Scent-Based Deterrents

Several natural scents are believed to repel bats. These work by overwhelming their sensitive sense of smell.

Essential Oils: Oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, cinnamon, and lavender are often cited as effective.
- How to Use: Soak cotton balls in your chosen essential oil. Place these cotton balls in areas where you’ve seen bats or suspect they are entering. Replenish the oils every few days as the scent fades.
- Application: Concentrate on entry points, near roosting sites, and along eaves and soffits.
Other Natural Scents:
- Ammonia: While effective, ammonia can be harsh and its fumes unpleasant for humans. Use with caution and good ventilation. Soaking rags in ammonia and placing them near entry points can deter bats.
- Cider Vinegar: Similar to ammonia, the strong smell of vinegar can be off-putting to bats. Dilute apple cider vinegar with water and spray it around potential entry points.

Table 1: Natural Scent Deterrents

Scent	Application Method	Frequency of Reapplication	Notes
Peppermint Oil	Cotton balls soaked and placed in entry points.	Every 2-3 days	Strong, pleasant scent for humans.
Eucalyptus Oil	Cotton balls soaked and placed in entry points.	Every 2-3 days	Potent aroma, ensure good ventilation.
Cinnamon Oil	Cotton balls soaked and placed in entry points.	Every 2-3 days	Another strong, natural scent.
Lavender Oil	Cotton balls soaked and placed in entry points.	Every 2-3 days	Calming for humans, potentially unsettling for bats.
Ammonia	Rags soaked and placed in entry points.	Daily or as needed	Strong fumes, use with caution and ventilation.
Apple Cider Vinegar	Sprayed around entry points, diluted with water.	Daily or as needed	Can be effective, ensure proper ventilation.

Visual Deterrents

Bats rely on sight and echolocation to navigate. Altering their visual cues can sometimes deter them.

Shiny Objects: Strips of aluminum foil, old CDs, or reflective tape hung near entry points can flash light, which might startle bats and make them hesitant to enter.
Plastic Owls or Snakes: While often sold as deterrents, these are generally less effective for bats as they don’t move. Bats are more likely to ignore stationary objects.

Sound-Based Deterrents

The effectiveness of sound-based bat deterrents is debated, but some homeowners find them useful.

Ultrasonic Bat Repeller Devices: These devices emit high-frequency sounds that are supposed to be unpleasant for bats but inaudible to humans.
- Effectiveness: Scientific studies on the long-term effectiveness of ultrasonic devices for bats are mixed. Some reviews suggest bats may habituate to the sound over time.
- Placement: Position these devices near suspected roosting areas or entry points.
Noise in General: Loud or sudden noises can sometimes startle bats, but this is not a sustainable or humane long-term solution for keeping bats away from your home.

Bat Exclusion: The Most Effective Humane Method

The most effective and humane way to get rid of bats is through a process called bat exclusion. This involves allowing bats to leave but preventing them from re-entering. It’s crucial to time exclusion correctly, as disturbing maternity colonies with young can be detrimental to the bats and potentially illegal depending on your location.

When to Perform Bat Exclusion

Avoid Maternity Season: Never exclude bats during their breeding season (typically late spring to early fall, depending on the region). This is when flightless young bats will be trapped inside, leading to their death.
Best Time: The best time for exclusion is typically in the fall after the young bats can fly and before hibernation season begins, or in early spring before the maternity season starts.
Consult Local Wildlife Agencies: It’s always a good idea to check with your local wildlife agency or a professional bat removal service to confirm the appropriate exclusion window for your area.

How to Perform Bat Exclusion

Identify Entry and Exit Points: Thoroughly inspect your home’s exterior, especially at dusk. Watch where bats emerge from your house. Common spots include gaps under eaves, roof vents, loose shingles, siding gaps, and chimney caps.
Seal Unused Openings: Use caulk, steel wool, mortar, or sealant to seal bat entry points that are not being used by the bats for exit. Bats can squeeze through surprisingly small openings, often as small as a quarter-inch. This step is crucial to ensure they can only leave through the exclusion device.
Install One-Way Exclusion Devices: These devices allow bats to exit but prevent them from returning.
- Netting or Tubing: A common method involves using fine mesh netting or flexible tubing. Attach the netting or tubing loosely over the primary exit point. The bats can crawl out through the netting or tube, but when they try to fly back in, they can’t find the opening.
- Purpose-Built Exclusion Devices: You can purchase commercially made one-way exclusion devices that are designed for this purpose. These often resemble tubes or funnels.
Monitor and Wait: Leave the exclusion devices in place for several days to a week, ensuring all bats have had an opportunity to leave. Continue to monitor the area at dusk to confirm bats are no longer emerging.
Remove Devices and Seal Final Entry Points: Once you are confident all bats have been excluded, remove the exclusion devices and permanently seal bat entry points. Ensure all potential openings are completely secured.

Table 2: Bat Exclusion Steps

Step	Description	Key Considerations
1. Identify Entry/Exit Points	Carefully inspect your home’s exterior for any gaps or openings bats might use. Observe at dusk for emergence.	Bats can fit through very small openings (as small as 0.5 inches). Focus on rooflines, vents, eaves, and siding.
2. Seal Unused Openings	Close off any gaps or holes that bats are not using to exit.	Use durable materials like caulk, mesh, mortar, or expandable foam. This forces bats to use the intended exit point for exclusion.
3. Install One-Way Exclusion Devices	Place devices over known bat exits that allow bats to leave but not re-enter.	Common materials include netting or specialized exclusion tubes. Ensure the device is securely attached and covers the entire opening.
4. Monitor and Wait	Observe the site at dusk for several days to ensure no bats are emerging.	Allow ample time for all bats, including any young that can fly, to leave. Patience is key for successful bat exclusion.
5. Remove Devices & Seal Final Points	Once you are sure bats are gone, remove the exclusion devices and permanently seal the remaining entry points.	Permanently secure all former entry points to prevent bats in attic or other areas from returning. This is the final step in bat proofing.

Bat Proofing Your Home

Once you’ve successfully excluded bats, the next step is to bat proof your home to prevent future infestations. This involves a thorough assessment of your property and sealing any potential entry points.

Comprehensive Inspection

Roofline: Check for loose shingles, damaged flashing around chimneys or vents, and gaps where the roof meets the walls.
Soffits and Eaves: Look for cracks, holes, or gaps where these overhangs meet the house. Bats often roost in the dark spaces within these structures.
Vents: Ensure all attic vents, gable vents, and other ventilation openings are covered with fine mesh (1/4 inch or smaller).
Chimneys: Cap chimneys with sturdy mesh screens to prevent bats (and other critters) from entering.
Siding and Walls: Inspect siding for cracks, rot, or loose sections. Pay attention to areas around windows and doors.
Foundation: Check for any openings where bats might gain access to crawl spaces or basements.

Sealing Materials

Caulk: For small cracks and gaps.
Steel Wool: Excellent for filling larger cracks and holes. Bats are generally deterred by the sharp edges. It can be combined with caulk.
Hardware Cloth or Wire Mesh: Use fine mesh (1/4 inch or smaller) to cover vent openings or larger gaps. Ensure it’s securely attached.
Mortar or Patching Compounds: For masonry or concrete damage.
Expandable Foam Sealant: Use with caution as bats can chew through it if not reinforced or covered.

What to Do If Bats Are Already Inside

If you discover bats inside your living space (not in the attic, but in rooms where people sleep or spend time), the approach needs to be immediate and careful.

Immediate Action

Stay Calm: Bats are not aggressive and will usually try to avoid you.
Isolate the Bat: Close doors to the room the bat is in to prevent it from moving to other parts of the house.
Ventilate: Open windows in the room to give the bat an easy exit route.
Avoid Direct Contact: Do not try to catch the bat with your bare hands. If you must handle it, wear thick leather gloves.
If You Need to Catch It:
- Wait for the bat to land.
- Place a container (like a coffee can or a small box) over the bat.
- Carefully slide a piece of stiff cardboard or a lid under the opening to trap the bat inside the container.
- Once safely contained, take it outside (away from the house if possible) and release it.

Rabies Concerns

While rabies in bats is rare, it’s important to be aware of the risk. Never handle a bat if you have been bitten or scratched, or if a bat has been in contact with a child, an intoxicated person, or anyone who cannot reliably report exposure. In such cases, contact your local health department immediately. They will advise on the proper protocol, which may involve testing the bat for rabies.

Deterring Bats From Roosting in Gardens or Yards

Sometimes, bats become a nuisance in gardens or yards, perhaps due to their droppings or their presence near outdoor living spaces.

Natural Light Sources: Bats prefer dark, quiet areas. Installing motion-activated lights in your yard can sometimes deter them.
Water Features: Bats drink on the wing. If you have a pond or water feature, bats may visit. While beneficial for insect control, if you want to deter them, consider covering the water feature at night or making its surface less inviting.
Eliminate Food Sources: While you can’t eliminate all insects, reducing standing water that attracts mosquitoes and other flying insects can indirectly reduce bat activity in your immediate vicinity.

When to Call Professionals

For complex bat infestations, or if you are uncomfortable performing exclusion yourself, it’s best to call professionals.

Wildlife Removal Services: Many companies specialize in humane bat removal. They have the expertise, equipment, and knowledge of local regulations to safely and effectively remove bats and bat proof your home.
Bat Conservation Groups: Local bat conservation organizations may also offer advice or resources for dealing with bat issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Will ultrasonic bat repellers work?
A1: The effectiveness of ultrasonic bat repellers is debated. Some studies suggest bats may get used to the sound over time, reducing their effectiveness. They are generally considered a less reliable method compared to physical exclusion.

Q2: Can I use mothballs to get rid of bats?
A2: No, using mothballs is not recommended. Mothballs contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to bats, other wildlife, pets, and humans. Their effectiveness is also questionable, and they are not considered a humane or safe bat repellent.

Q3: What should I do if I find a bat on my property during the day?
A3: A bat found on the ground or active during the day might be sick or injured. It’s best to keep pets and children away from it. If you suspect it’s injured, contact your local animal control or wildlife rehabilitation center for advice. Do not attempt to handle it without proper protection.

Q4: How long does bat exclusion take?
A4: The exclusion process itself, from installing devices to sealing final entry points, usually takes about a week to ten days. However, the entire process, including the waiting period to ensure all bats are gone, can span several weeks, especially considering the need to avoid maternity seasons.

Q5: Is it legal to harm bats?
A5: In many regions, bats are protected species. It is illegal to harm, kill, or disturb bats, especially during their maternity season. Always prioritize humane methods like bat exclusion.

Q6: How can I tell if bats are in my attic?
A6: Signs of bats in your attic include:
* Squeaking or scratching noises at dawn or dusk.
* Droppings (guano), which look like small, dark, dry pellets, often found in piles. Guano can be mistaken for mouse droppings, but bat guano often has a shiny, flaky appearance due to insect exoskeletons.
* Stains or dark coloration on the exterior of your home near entry points, caused by the oils and dust from bat fur.
* Seeing bats emerge from your attic at dusk.

By understanding bat behavior and employing safe, natural methods, you can effectively manage bats around your home, ensuring both your comfort and the well-being of these important creatures. Remember, patience and thoroughness are key to successful bat exclusion and bat proofing.