It's almost bat season: Here's what you need to keep the bats out of your home

Bat-proofing your house

Bats are pretty incredible creatures, but that doesn’t mean we should have to coexist with them.

No matter your personal feelings about bats, it’s probably safe to say that most would find it unpleasant to share a space with them. Sure, they do a lot for our gardens and other outdoor spaces, but those with attics or old construction may be susceptible to bats nesting inside their homes.

In addition to being unsettling, bats living in your home can also present health hazards to you and your family. Fortunately, there are several ways to help get bats out of your home and keep them away in the future without doing any harm to them.

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What to know about bats

Regional

It’s important to note that many species of bats exist, even in the U.S. They can range significantly in size and behavior, so it’s important to note where you live and what kinds of bats are nearby. Then, you’ll be able to choose the right solution for the types of bats in the area, such as what size of bat house to get or what kinds of repellents might work best.

Endangered pollinators

Many bat species are endangered, so evacuating them from your home may not be as cut-and-dry as other types of pests. Also, bats are pollinators and eat thousands of insects every night, so they’re worth keeping around, just not in your house. There are many solutions that pest control experts use to vacate bats from homes that don’t harm the mammals while still getting them to nest somewhere other than your attic.

Main strategies for avoiding bats

Sealing entry points

The only surefire way to keep bats out of your home is to seal any entry points in ceilings, roofs, walls or other locations. Most pest-repellant professionals dealing with bats use copper mesh material or steel wool to seal up hard-to-fill holes. When sealing entry points, it’s also vital to ensure you’ve already helped any bats in your space escape, or else you could trap them inside your home.

Bat houses or boxes

It’s important to give bats a place to go while also sealing any entry points is key to keeping bats out. The most effective solution is to use bat houses, which encourage bats to relocate while providing them a new place to live outside your home. Bat houses, sometimes called bat boxes, usually offer enough space for several bats to nest in. It’s important to mount bat houses high off the ground and facing a direction that gets at least a few hours of sunlight per day.

Bat repellents

Those with bats actively in their homes will need to evict bats, which you can do in a few different ways. Some use natural bat repellents to create an environment that bats don’t want to stay in, using mint oils and other essential oils. You can also use moth balls to repel both bats and the insects they like to eat. Other tools such as bat exclusion cones can help bats exit without returning inside. Additionally, you can use ultrasonic auditory systems that make spaces unbearable for bats and their sensitive hearing.

Bat attractants

You can also use bat attractants to encourage bats to nest elsewhere. If there’s a nearby area outside of your home where bats can nest, you can spray bat attractants on them to help bats find and utilize the space. Additionally, bat attractants work great when used in tandem with bat houses, as they can bring bats to their new nests of your making.

Sound and light-based bat repellents

Other bat repellent options use things such as sound light to help make your home annoying or unbearable for bats. Ultrasonic bat repellents use frequencies of sounds that bats can’t stand to drive them away, and they do so at frequencies that humans and most other animals can’t hear at all. Some also use floodlights to drive insects and bats away, as bats are hunters that catch their prey in darkness.

What you need to keep the bats out of your home

Evergreen Natural Wooden Bat House

This simple bat house is a great affordable option that works well for most bat types. It’s made from pine and features grooved walls to invite bats in, especially when mounted up high.

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Here's what you need to keep bats out of your home