Three Steps to Getting Rid of Bats in Your Attic For Good

Bats are a vital part of our ecosystem — but they also pose a health risk in your home. That's why if you suspect you have a bat or bat infestation, it’s important to act quickly to remove the nuisance wildlife and protect your home from future invasion.

Wondering how to get rid of bats in your attic, basement, or crawl space? Although you might be tempted to do it yourself, it’s important to note that many bat species are protected and there are specific federal and sometimes state rules around handling, removing, or relocating certain bat species.

Then there’s also the health risks to consider. Although bats aren’t typically aggressive, there is always a small chance they have rabies. Bat guano (droppings) can be more worrisome than the bite, as guano carries fungal spores that can cause lung disease and respiratory issues in humans. Bats also can be the host to blood-sucking insects (Bat Bugs) that can infect humans.

Whether you decide to move forward with removal yourself or call in licensed professionals like the bat and wildlife exterminators at Ford’s Hometown Service, here are the three common steps that will follow.

Three Steps to Having a Bat-Free Residence

Step 1: Remove bat or bats

The first step is to identify if you have a lone bat that flew into the house accidentally, or a more extensive problem such as a colony or infestation. If it’s one bat that accidentally flew into your home, you as a homeowner can likely deal with this situation by simply helping the bat find its way back outside. Simply close off as much of the house as you can and open an exterior door. Usually, the bat finds its way out of a home safely.

On the other hand, if you find droppings, smell strange odors, or hear sounds coming from your attic, usually scratching or squeaking noises, you may have a bat infestation on your hands.

Removing a bat colony on your own isn’t recommended. It’s best to work with trained professionals who can use one-way exclusive devices to humanely get bats to leave the attic and prevent them from returning.

Step 2: Identify and seal off entry points 

It’s key to determine how the bats have infiltrated your home. Common entry points include:

• Behind shutters
• Broken or torn screens
• Chimney
• Open soffits
• Openings for pipes or wires
• Under eaves, siding, or shingles
• Vents

Entry points are not always easy to identify – since bats can enter a home through something as small as a dime, sometimes it takes an experienced eye to find the opening. At Ford’s Hometown Services, our team thoroughly inspects an area to locate all bat entry points and then seals them off. In some situations, our team will work with homeowners to provide an external bat control alternative, such as placing bat houses outdoors, to stop bats from coming back to your home.

Step 3: Clean and sanitize

Often, the biggest lasting impact of a bat infestation is the damage caused by their waste. Once the bats are gone, immediately turn your attention to cleaning up their mess. This is no small task and you should take the necessary precautions — such as wearing gloves, a face mask, and long-sleeved clothing.