Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

If your home is invaded by bats then the problem you will face is not just noise. Often home structures will be damaged by bat intrusion; bat manure will gradually rot the wood and other construction materials. Exposure to bat droppings can also pose health risks to you and your family if left unattended. You might consider calling a professional exterminator if the situation becomes dire. There are however a few simple steps you can take to get rid of these winged intruders from your home and make sure they don't come back.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Determining a bat infestation

1. 

   Verify that the bat is the problem you're dealing with. The occasional rustle you hear in the attic could be the movement of old pipes or the sound of house expanding. Eliminate other possibilities before you start spending time and effort chasing the bat. The best way to find out if there are bats in your home is to see them with your own eyes or spot bat droppings.
   • Get advice from an exterminator or a wildlife expert to identify the type of bats that normally live in your area.

2. 

   
   
   Pay attention to find bat droppings. Bat droppings are usually in the form of small, round, black pellets with a strong odor. If you come across bat droppings in your home, it is more likely that the bat has slept in your home recently.
   • Although difficult to see, bat urine will leave small stains and a very strong odor.
   • Bat droppings sometimes contain mold spores and can be harmful by inhalation. In some cases, long-term exposure to bat feces can lead to serious health risks, including dengue fever and respiratory infections such as histoplasmosis.

3. 

   
   
   Find out about bats you find in your area. There are different types of bats. Find out when the bats spawning time in your area begins. If you chase the mother out of the house after the baby gives birth, the baby bats won't survive. This will leave an unbearable stench, and your attic will be full of bat corpses to dispose of.
   • Bats live in a variety of unique conditions. Usually we can narrow the range of bats based on where they live. This will help you choose a strategy to securely quarantine and drive away these reluctant guests.
   • If possible, try to observe a bat fly into your home at close range to see which species it belongs to.

4. 

   
   
   Check out where bats can fly. Bats are drawn to enclosed, dark spaces, almost like the natural cave environment in which they live. Look around attics, chimneys, basements, or low spaces for evidence that bats have arrived. Pay particular attention to locations where bats can penetrate through tiny cracks and holes, as bats often enter the home from these points.
   • Bats can squeeze through gaps only about 1 cm wide, so don't overlook small or subtle gaps.
   • Watch the bats as they come and go to see which way they enter.
   advertisement

Part 2 of 3: Removing the bat

1. 

   Confuse to scare away bats. Bats love dark and quiet hiding places, hate light and noisy places. Try leaving lights on in attics or places where you suspect bats live. For added potency, you can purchase a white noise generator that stays on all night to double your bat repellance.
   • In many places, it is illegal to kill certain species of bats that require protection, so you will need to find a way to get rid of the bats without harming them.
   • Hang aluminum wires down from the ceiling to create a series of obstructions that distract the bat and keep it away.

2. 

   Set a shelter for the bat. Bats shelter boxes are small and enclosed structures that provide a pleasant temperature environment for bats seeking shelter. The aim here is to lure the bats out of the house but still provide accommodation so they no longer wish to return. For people living in mountainous areas, bat shelter boxes can be a great way to remove bats without the use of more costly methods.
   • You can create a bat shelter yourself or ask a pest control or wildlife service to find out how to get one.
   • Place bat shelters near trees in the property or along the house, in dark areas.

3. 

   Installation of one-way blocking device. One-way valves fitted at points that you suspect are bat entrances will allow the bats to escape freely but not back in. That way the bats will leave on their own. This containment device is arguably the most effective way to completely get rid of the bats.
   • The method of preventing bats from entering a home is better than a bat trap, which is difficult and dangerous to do.
   • You can find blocking devices at most pet stores and home repair stores. The equipment installation is also relatively simple.

4. 

   Call a professional exterminator. If you can't get rid of the bats by yourself or you suspect that you have a bat nest in your house, it's best to get it handled by a professional service. Pest control professionals will know how to identify bats where bats can enter, remove them and seal critical spots to prevent bats from returning.
   • This is probably the safest and most convenient way if you can afford it.
   • Where there is a priority policy on environmental protection, you can find a team of wildlife experts to get the bats out of your home for free.
   advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Prevent bats from invading

1. 

   Seal every way a bat can enter. Once the bats are gone, you need to seal up any gaps they might find their way into. You can do this by repairing cracks or permanent damage and installing a containment device.You may need to use glue, mortar, or roofing sheets to seal leaks. When encountering these obstacles, the bats will have difficulty or no longer enter your home.
   • Call your construction contractor to inspect the outside of your home for possible bat entrances.
   • It is important to take care of every point a bat can enter. If the bats don't get through at this point, they'll look elsewhere.

2. 

   Clean up any residual bat waste. Use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum up dry bat manure or scoop into a garbage bag to dispose of, then scrub thoroughly with enzyme-based cleaning solution. This product will help to decompose biological waste so that no stains remain.
   • Be sure to take appropriate safety measures when cleaning bat feces - wear thick rubber gloves, glasses and a mask to filter the surrounding air.
   • But it is best to leave the bat dung clean for the extermination service.

3. 

   Regularly check where bats can live. Look closely at attics, basements, low spaces or bat infiltration areas to prevent bats from returning. Watch out for the bats and their droppings. It is likely that the bats will be outside after you have sealed the entrances, but if by chance they sneak into your house, you'll spot them so you can stop them.
   • Unexplained debris or sandy soil may be a sign that the bat has re-infiltrated.
   • Although often trapped in attics or chimneys, bats also reside under flooring, inside glass corridors, and under roof tiles.
   advertisement

Advice

• Spray the areas with bat droppings to keep dirt and germs from spreading.
• The best time to take steps to protect your home is at night, when the bats are out to hunt and mate.
• Check the home once a year for bats and other pests.
• The occasional presence of humans would make the bats uncomfortable.
• Fruits, nuts and other small foods can sometimes lure the bat out of the shelter.

Warning

• Don't waste time with bat repellants. Not only are they often ineffective, but these products are also hazardous to the health of you and your family because they spread irritating chemicals around the home.
• In addition to histoplasmosis, bats are also associated with many other health risks such as rabies, fleas, ticks, and fleas.