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How to Repel Bats
How to Repel Bats. Bats are beneficial nocturnal flying mammals that prey on pests such as mosquitoes, termites and cockroaches. However, in certain situations bats can pose a health hazard to humans, as carriers of transferable diseases such as rabies, parasitic infections and histoplasmosis, a respiratory fungal infection caused by the...
Bats are beneficial nocturnal flying mammals that prey on pests such as mosquitoes, termites and cockroaches. However, in certain situations bats can pose a health hazard to humans, as carriers of transferable diseases such as rabies, parasitic infections and histoplasmosis, a respiratory fungal infection caused by the accumulation of bat droppings. It is illegal to trap, relocate or exterminate bats in the U.S., and most repellents such as naphthalene balls and ultrasonic devices are ineffective and illegal. Using exclusion techniques is a humane method of repelling bats and preventing them from inhabiting your home. (See Resources 1, 2 and 3; References 1, 2 and 3)
Things You'll Need
Expandable foam or caulk
1/4-inch-thick mesh screen frames
Look for evidence of bats inhabiting your house to identify their entry points and seal them. Observe the areas around entry and exit points for dark stains caused by bat excreta, or for "rub marks" owing to a build-up of oil and dirt around the openings that bats pass through. Since bats are nocturnal, you should keep a watch for them as they move out in the evenings, from their hiding place in your house, in search of food. (See References 2 and 3)
Check your house for visible signs of cracks and gaps, small and large, through which bats can enter. Close these gaps with sealants such as expandable foam or caulk, to prevent the entry of bats through them. Bats can enter houses through gaps that are as small as a tiny coin. Ensure that there are no bats inhabiting the structure before you seal the gaps. (See References 2 and 3)
Place barriers around large entry and exit points such as doors, windows and vents. Secure 1/4-inch-thick mesh screen frames at doors, windows and around vents to prevent bats from flying in. (See References 2 and 3)
Tips & Warnings
Seal gaps and place barriers around your house at the end of autumn when the bats abandon your house to hibernate, or during early spring prior to their arrival. (See References 3)
