Don't Let Bats Take Over Your Home—How to Get Rid of Them Fast (2024)

While bats are skilled insect killers (and great for keeping mosquitoes away), they aren't a critter you want living inside your home. Bats can carry dangerous diseases like rabies, so it's best to (carefully) relocate them in the event of an infestation.

Here's what you need to know about identifying them, signs of a bat infestation, and how to get rid of bats, along with a few tips for preventing further bat visits to your attic or garage.

Identifying Bats

North America has over 150 species of bats, with different ones preferring unique environments and locations.

But the most common types of bat are the little brown bat, the big brown bat, the pallid bat, the northern long-eared bat, and the Brazilian free-tailed bat.

Both the little brown and big brown bat have brown fur and dark brown wings, feet, and face. As the name implies, the little brown bat is the smaller version of the big brown bat.

The pallid bat has pale, oversized ears and large eyes, while the northern long-eared bat is known for its brown fur and (drumroll) long ears.

The Brazilian free-tailed bat is brown or gray and has wide-set ears.

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Signs of a Bat Infestation

If you're worried that you have a bat infestation on your hands, keep a lookout for these signs in, around, and outside the house.

But remember not to get too close to any bat—both you and the bat can easily pass diseases to one another.

Indoor Bat Infestation

• Bat droppings around the home, especially in the attic
• Oily resin around gaps in the walls and floors
• Strong ammonia odor from bat droppings and urine
• Flapping or chirping noises near walls or vents
• Pets bringing home a dead bat

Outdoor Bat Infestation

• Swarms of bats flying around the home
• Lots of dead bats in the yard or near it
• Greasy stains on the outside of the home
• Bat droppings on exterior walls or ground directly next to it

How to Get Rid of Bats Inside and Out

Once you've realized that you have a bat problem, it's best to get them out of your home ASAP. Here are a few ways to do just that.

Devices That Keep Bats Out

Consider installing a bat valve to keep bats out—it will let bats leave when they go to hunt at night but keep them from ever getting back in.

Bat valves are installed on top of openings to your home's attic, like vent outlets. They can be purchased in a variety of sizes, and they can be uninstalled once all your home's bats have left.

DIY Removal

You can also remove a bat yourself, but you must wear thick leather gloves and cover your arms. To remove a bat from the home, secure it in a room where there are no animals or children around.

Take a medium-sized cardboard box and slowly place it on top of the bat, like you're trapping a bug.

Slide another piece of cardboard on top of the box to prevent the bat from flying out, then move the box outside. Take the top piece of cardboard off and hold the box high above your head to let the bat fly away into the air.

Bat Repellents

Bat repellents typically come in two categories: sound emitters and scents. Sound repellents emit an ultrasonic noise that's irritating and disorienting to bats, keeping them out.

Scented mothballs give off strong odors that repel bats as well, especially when scented with essential oils like lavender or peppermint.

Causes of a Bat Infestation

Bats will typically move inside the home as it's a shelter from the elements, especially in the harsh winter months. But if you catch them hibernating in the winter in your attic or garage, consider letting them be until springtime—trying to move them outside when it's cold could kill them.

They can also be attracted to a home when a bright light (and open door) is left on, attracting insects. Bats will then fly in after the insects to hunt them.

How to Prevent Bats Inside and Out

• Seal openings. Seal any exterior gaps or openings that bats could wiggle into with caulk or covering.
• Use bat deterrents. Keep an ultrasonic bat deterrent in your attic year-round, or install a one-way bat valve over vents to keep them out.
• Keep the exterior and attic well-lit. Bats don't like bright light—they are nocturnal, after all. So consider keeping that porch or attic light on through the night to keep bats away.

When to Call a Professional

It might be time to call a bat removal specialist if you're dealing with an extra-large infestation or local laws require the use of a licensed professional (bats are federally protected).

A bat removal professional will investigate your home to find out where the bats are nesting and where they're getting in.

They'll then figure out the best way to relocate the bats, clean up any bat guano left behind, and give you a few strategies about how to keep bats away in the future.