The three species you are most likely to see and have problems with in the US are the little brown bat, big brown bat, and Mexican free-tailed bat. Each of these bat species are colony-dwellers, living in groups of 12 to 1,000. The other three species found in the US but that you are less likely to see are the red bat, hoary bat, and silverhaired bat. These species might enter structures as transients during migration, but they are not known to permanently roost there.
For help with bat species identification you may contact your local cooperative extension office.
Bat Behavior
Bats are nocturnal, flying, insect-eating mammals. Some are migratory, but the majority will hibernate through the colder months of the year, and hopefully not in your house or attic. When not active or flying, bats prefer to hide out in dark, secluded roosts or retreats.
Damage
Problems can arise when bats invade your home or other buildings. Bats leave trails of urine and defecation, which are not only unsightly and smelly, but have the potential to transmit disease and attract other pests. Bats hanging around your home could also chew through cables and wires, resulting in expensive repair and fire hazard.
Bat Management and Bat Repellent
- Don't let them in. The most important thing you can do to get rid of bats is block off or seal up potential entry points. Make sure all holes are either caulked or plugged using a metal mesh or black foam.
- Skip the traps. Use a bat repellent instead. Bat traps rarely work and are rarely used by professionals. See our bat repellent products for safe, easy, and humane ways to coerce bats out of attics, wall voids, or crawl spaces.
Bat Control Products