It can be dangerous to have bats in your home. Bat guano, their droppings, can contain harmful spores and diseases. They can also carry insects that could give you infections. You’ll want to know safe and smart ways to remove these pests since they can give you rabies if they scratch or bite you.
So, we put together this guide to help you remove bats from your home. Make sure to keep reading to learn more!
1. Contact the Professionals
First, you’ll want to reach out to the professionals. A bat removal service would be the best place to start. These experts know how to remove bats according to the guidelines and regulations where you live, and they can do so safely without putting you in harm’s way.
In Ohio, it’s illegal to harm or kill a bat unless you’re at risk of getting bitten. Since you don’t want to get into trouble, having the pros handle it properly is smart.
It’s a good idea to consult with professionals if you have a significant bat infestation. They’ll identify the species, safely remove them, and devise solutions to prevent them from returning.
2. Identify and Seal Entry Points
Next, you’ll want to find and seal the places where the bats are coming in from. Inspect your attic, chimneys, and vents to see where they’re getting in. Bats don’t need much space to enter your home; an opening of about ⅜ inches is all they need to squeeze inside.
Once you’ve found where the bats are coming in, you can seal them. However, you’ll want to do this during the fall or winter when the bats are absent. That way, you don’t accidentally trap them inside, which can cause them to panic and fly around your home.
Mesh and caulk are usually suitable materials to use to seal holes. You can also use one-way exclusion devices that let the bats out but not back in.
3. Install Bat Houses Outside
Placing bat houses on your property is an excellent way to encourage the bats to move out independently. It’s also smart because you don’t have to handle the bats, and they can continue benefiting the local ecosystem.
The bats will eat mosquitos and other pests on your property, which can prevent those bugs from spreading disease in your community.
4. Try Natural Repellents
You can use natural repellents to drive the bats away, too. Some options, like mothballs or essential oils, might deter bats. You might succeed with peppermint, citronella, or cinnamon since they have strong scents that bats dislike.
All you need to do is add the essential oil to the water, then pour it into a spray bottle. Simply spray the mixture where you know the bats enter your home.
You must apply these repellents to the areas where the bats roost without putting them on the bats. You also want to ensure you do it when the bats are outside. Lastly, wear gloves and protective clothing if the bats are still present.
Bats also hate bright lights and loud sounds, so you can use that to your advantage. Play music and leave lights in spaces where the bats tend to be. Shining spotlights on entry points can deter the bats from returning to your home without hurting them.
5. Create Air Flow
Bats don’t like areas with a lot of moving air. You can increase airflow near the entry points to help deter them from coming side. Simply install fans in your attic to drive them away.
You’ll want to use this tip with others on this list to make it more effective, as a fan might not be enough. Combining it with music and lights can help a lot.
6. Do Some Home Maintenance
Bats are likely coming in through holes that aren’t supposed to be in your home. You’ll want to inspect your home and work on maintaining it. Regular maintenance can prevent more entry points from opening, so there are no more reinfestations later.
Here’s what you’ll want to inspect:
- Roof and eaves
- Vents
- Chimneys
- Areas around windows and doors
- Attic
- Basement
- Crawlspaces
- Screens
If you notice bat guano during your inspections, you know that bats are coming in through that area. It’d be wise to reach out to the professionals. Make sure to wear gloves and a mask when cleaning it up.
Bat guano looks like small, dark pellets, accumulating where there’s an infestation, most often around the entry points that bats are using. You shouldn’t ignore this sign!
7. Hang Up Shiny Objects
Bats aren’t fans of shiny objects, either. You can hang up reflective tape and mylar balloons around the entry points to deter them from entering. Pointing a light at the balloons can make them even less appealing to the bats.
Reflective objects cause visual confusion to bats. Adding them can confuse them because something new in their roosting area can make the bats leave.
It’s another option that works best when you combine it with other bat-deterring methods.
8. Maintain Your Yard
Maintaining your yard and keeping it in good condition can help keep bats away, too. Cut grass often, trim trees, and keep shrubs far from your house. Doing so can reduce places for bats to live on your property.
Keeping your yard in good condition can also limit the amount of insects that bats eat from being near your property. When there’s no food for the bats, they’ll leave.
Keep Consistent and Be Patient
In short, you’ll want to be patient when removing bats from your home. You’ll need to be consistent with these tips to have them be the most effective. If you stop too soon, the bats will return, so it’s essential to use these strategies longer than you think you need to.
The smartest thing to do would be to contact the pros. They can help you remove the bats safely and prevent a new infestation.
