What Are the Signs of a Bat Problem in Your Attic?

We can all appreciate having bats in our community, as they help support the ecosystem and help keep the bugs away. However, you want your neighborhood bats to stay outdoors where they belong!

Having a bat problem in your attic can be really frustrating to deal with, and it can even be dangerous to you and your family if you aren’t careful to remove them right away.

Let’s explore the signs of a bat problem and what to do about it so you can keep your family safe this season.

What Are the Signs of a bat Problem in Your Attic

Table of Contents

Sings of Pest Infestation Damage

Why Are Bats Dangerous? 

To start, it’s important to know why having bats in your home is a bad problem to have. While any pest infestation can impact your home and family in a negative way, bats are particularly dangerous because of their ability to carry serious diseases.

Bats can carry diseases without showing symptoms or without being impacted by certain viruses, so it is important that you take action right away to remove the bats even if they don’t look sick. One disease in particular that is very serious is rabies. If you are bitten by a bat that is carrying the rabies virus, it can be dangerous or even deadly.  

Knowing the signs of a bat problem in your attic is crucial so you can take action immediately to get them out of your home. 

1. You See Bats at Night

It is common knowledge that bats are nocturnal, which means they come out at night to hunt but need somewhere safe to sleep during the day. As the temperature cools down, bats and other pests will start to look for a cozy place to ride out the harsher weather months. Your attic is the perfect solution! It is warm and dry and offers protection against predators. 

If you notice bats flying around your home as the sun starts to set, keep a close eye on their patterns. Having bats near your home doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you have a bat problem, but it does raise your risk considerably. 

Why are Bats Dangerous

The biggest indicator that you might have bats in your attic is if you see them flying from your home or landing on  your roof after flying around. If this is the case, call a professional bat removal team right away.

2. Bat Droppings or Guano Are Present

Another simple sign that you are dealing with a bat problem is the presence of guano. Bat droppings, commonly known as guano, look like small, long pellets. They can appear black in color and often build up along entry points or roosting areas below your attic joists.

It’s important to call a bat removal team as soon as you discover guano, even if you don’t necessarily see any live bats in your attic. Bats will naturally try to avoid contact with humans, so you might not notice them as fast as you will notice their droppings. 

3. Black Stains Around Potential Entry Points

Is there a part of your siding or a section of your chimney that is turning black for no apparent reason? If so, it might be due to a bat problem. Bats have a grease layer on their coats, which will leave behind a residue as they squeeze through the hole or other entry point in your home. 


It may be hard to spot at first as the staining can look similar to a dirt smudge at first glance, but it will continue to get worse and build up in that specific spot the longer the issue goes unaddressed. 

Black Stains Around Potential Entry Points

4. You Hear Sounds in Your Attic 

 

Bats are stealthy and fly virtually silently, but they do still make noise when they are shuffling around in an enclosed space. They will scratch and claw around as they settle in to rest, and they will squeak and chirp to communicate with their other bat friends. 

 

These noises will become more apparent during dawn and dusk as the bats come and go from your home. If a bat gets trapped somewhere in your attic or in your home and it can’t get out, you will hear louder sounds of it hitting your walls and vents as it tries to find its escape. 

5. Your Attic or Upper Level Starts To Stink

Bats are wild animals, and they won’t have much regard for your property once they make their way into your attic space. Bat guano and urine produce a quite strong odor, and the more of it there is, the worse the smell will get. 

 

Over time, that stink will start to permeate the living areas of your home. If you start to notice a strange or bitter smell in your upper levels or in your attic, it’s definitely worth an investigation to track down the source. 

What To Do About Bats in Your Attic

If you discover any of these signs in your home or if you see bats flying around in your attic, it’s time to back away and call a bat removal team right away. Bats should always be handled by a professional team that has the training and safety gear to stay protected during the entire process. 

What To Do About Bats in Your Attic

Even a single bite from an infected or sick bat can become a serious situation! Close your attic hatch carefully and stay away from the area until the professionals arrive.  They will locate the entry point, remove the bats carefully and humanely, and then will tackle your cleanup. Droppings, urine and grease residue will be removed and the entry point will be sealed up entirely to prevent a future infestation.

Dealing with bats in your attic? The team at Master Attic is ready to help. Call us today at (800) 285-4009 and we will tackle your bat problem promptly. 

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