How to Get Rid of Flying Bats in the Attic

Few flying creatures evoke the response that bats do. Misrepresented in folklore, people usually approach bats with fear. However, bats are generally timorous creatures that go out of their way to avoid contact with humans. Nevertheless, like all animals, bats need shelter. According to Defenders of Wildlife, bats prefer dark, quiet spaces where they can hide from predators and safely raise their young. This makes an attic an attractive and ideal location for roosting.

Remove Bats From the Attic

• 1

  Wait until fall to attempt bat removal. If you have a large colony making a home of your attic, this can seem like an eternity to wait. However, according to the Florida Bat Conservancy, bats raise their young from April through August. It is unethical to try to remove bats during breeding season. You may inadvertently separate mothers from their offspring as baby bats are unable to fly.

• 2

  Watch your attic at sunset and make note of where the bats exit. Bats are capable of squeezing through openings as small as ½-inch and they may use more than one crack or crevice. Observe closely for three to five evenings or until you are certain of the location of the entrance points.

• 3

  Cover all entry points with mesh wire screen. Cut large patches and secure one end while leaving the other loose, creating flaps over the openings. This will allow bats to fly out but will prevent them from flying back in.

• 4

  Wait one week, periodically checking the attic for the presence of bats. Once all the bats are gone, close the entrances with caulk or cement or stuff them with steel wool, permanently sealing the openings and preventing further colonization.

• 5

  Clean the attic. According to the Centers for Disease Control, not only does bat guano smell bad, its presence can encourage the growth of a fungus that can lead to the development of histoplasmosis -- a serious lung disease.