How Do Bats Get In Your House
Discovering bats residing in your home can be a common occurrence, especially during the summer months. Bats are most likely to roost and gather in colonies in the attic, as the heat of the attic keeps the pups warm and allows them to grow and develop more rapidly. However, after a few very hot summer days, the attic may become too hot for the bats, forcing them out and sometimes into the living quarters as they search for cooler places to roost. Inexperienced young bats may also accidentally find their way into living spaces in late summer, such as falling down a chimney, flying through an open window, or landing on the ground.
During warmer months, most bats found in buildings are either little brown bats or big brown bats. The presence of any wild animal, including bats, in a home is an obvious indication that the house is not weather-tight. Bats can squeeze through a hole as small as 1/2 inch. In some cases, with small numbers of bats, people don’t mind their presence and concentrate on blocking holes and cracks leading into the human living quarters. However, where there is a large colony of bats in house walls, homeowners may consider removing and relocating the bats.
Evicting Bats from Your Home
Massachusetts requires non-lethal approaches through the use of one-way doors. The only long-term solution to keep the bats out is to bat-proof your entire house by blocking all possible entrances that are 1/2 inch or larger using a good sealing material, leaving the one primary entrance open with a one-way door. One-way doors allow bats to leave the structure, but not re-enter. Since not all bats will exit every night, one-way doors should be left in place for a minimum of five nights, including at least three consecutive nights of good weather before the one-way doors are removed and the holes are sealed. If weather conditions are not conducive to bat flight, the one-way doors should be left in place longer.
It may also be helpful to put up a bat house nearby to provide an alternate site for the bats. Since bats are protected in Massachusetts, attempts to evict a colony of bats can only be made during the early spring (during the month of May), or late summer (from August 1st to mid-October). Waiting to evict the colony allows time for any young bats to mature and leave the house on their own.
What to do if a Bat is Found in Your Home
If a bat is found in your home, it is important to stay calm and not chase the bat. The best action is to open a window or door in the room containing the bat, close off the rest of the house, and block the space under the door with towels. A flying bat will usually circle the room several times until it locates the open window and flies out. If it is nighttime, it is usually only a matter of a few minutes before the bat leaves the house. If it is daytime, the bat should leave within an hour after dark, as long as the weather conditions are appropriate.
If a bat has landed, it can be assisted out of a house in several ways. For a bat on a curtain or wall, place a jar, coffee can, kitchen strainer, or small box over the bat, carefully working the bat into the container, and then slip the lid on or cover the box quickly with a piece of cardboard. A bat on the floor can be covered with a towel, picked up within the towel, and then released outdoors. Another method is to put on thick work gloves and simply pick up the bat and release it outdoors. Do not use thin gloves and never pick up a bat with bare hands.
Are bats harmful?
Bats, like any other mammal, can carry rabies, but the incidence of rabies in bat populations is extremely low. Bats who do contract rabies die quickly, so they don’t cause an ongoing threat. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends capturing and testing any bat found in a room with a sleeping person. If you find a bat on the ground outside, it doesn’t mean the bat is rabid. She may be ill, temporarily stunned from flying into a window, or too chilled to fly.
How can I prevent bats from getting in my home?
If you have already found bats in your home, you need to find how they are getting in. Bats don’t make holes to get into buildings; they use entry points we leave open. Small openings or narrow gaps high on houses allow bats to enter. Bats may also enter under loose-fitting doors, around windows, and through gaps around conduits and utility vents. Inspect thoroughly and seal potential interior entrances. Many homeowners who recognize the value of having bats at work for insect control will opt to put up a bat house at the time of eviction, hoping the bats will find and use it or occupy it on return the next spring.
How can I provide outdoor habitats for bats?
Give bats places to stay by protecting and planting native vegetation, and leave dead trees standing as shelter, when it’s safe to do so. Those with caves or abandoned mines on their property can provide fencing and signs to keep people from disturbing hibernating bats. Put up a bat house to reap the benefits of having bats nearby, whether you buy one or build your own.
Common Ways Bats Gain Entry into Homes
There are several common ways bats gain entry into homes, including through open doors or windows, fascia boards, chimneys, and attics. Bats are attracted to the bugs around front porches at dusk, making open doors and windows a potential entry point. Fascia boards provide dark places for bats to enter, while damaged chimney caps can also allow bats to gain access. However, the most common way bats get into homes is through the attic, as it provides a dark and elevated location for them to roost.
Conclusion
Bats are incredible creatures that play a vital role in our ecosystem by controlling insect populations. However, when they find their way into our homes, it can be a cause for concern. Understanding how bats gain entry into homes and taking the necessary steps to prevent and evict them can help homeowners coexist with these beneficial animals while ensuring the safety and security of their living spaces.
FAQs
1. How do bats get in the house?
Bats can enter homes through open doors or windows, fascia boards, chimneys, and attics. They are attracted to the bugs around front porches at dusk, making open doors and windows a potential entry point. Fascia boards provide dark places for bats to enter, while damaged chimney caps can also allow bats to gain access. However, the most common way bats get into homes is through the attic, as it provides a dark and elevated location for them to roost.
2. Are bats harmful?
Bats, like any other mammal, can carry rabies, but the incidence of rabies in bat populations is extremely low. Bats who do contract rabies die quickly, so they don’t cause an ongoing threat. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends capturing and testing any bat found in a room with a sleeping person. If you find a bat on the ground outside, it doesn’t mean the bat is rabid. She may be ill, temporarily stunned from flying into a window, or too chilled to fly.
3. How can I prevent bats from getting in my home?
Inspect thoroughly and seal potential interior entrances. Many homeowners who recognize the value of having bats at work for insect control will opt to put up a bat house at the time of eviction, hoping the bats will find and use it or occupy it on return the next spring.
4. How can I provide outdoor habitats for bats?
Give bats places to stay by protecting and planting native vegetation, and leave dead trees standing as shelter, when it’s safe to do so. Those with caves or abandoned mines on their property can provide fencing and signs to keep people from disturbing hibernating bats. Put up a bat house to reap the benefits of having bats nearby, whether you buy one or build your own.
5. What to do if a Bat is Found in Your Home?
If a bat is found in your home, it is important to stay calm and not chase the bat. The best action is to open a window or door in the room containing the bat, close off the rest of the house, and block the space under the door with towels. A flying bat will usually circle the room several times until it locates the open window and flies out.
6. How Do Bats Get In Your House?
Bats can gain entry into homes through open doors or windows, fascia boards, chimneys, and attics. They are attracted to the bugs around front porches at dusk, making open doors and windows a potential entry point. Fascia boards provide dark places for bats to enter, while damaged chimney caps can also allow bats to gain access. However, the most common way bats get into homes is through the attic, as it provides a dark and elevated location for them to roost.