Did you just stumble upon a bat nest in your attic? Are these flying mammals invading your house insulation? If yes, then it’s time to get rid of them!
Bats are highly adaptable mammals that have learned to live around humans. They usually prefer to roost in caves, trees, and rock crevices. But if they find a warm and dark attic or an unused chimney, these uninvited guests will immediately settle down.
Unfortunately, most government laws prohibit harming a bat. This means you can’t use pesticides, sticks, or anything else to remove a bat from your property. You must figure out a humane way to do it.
So, to save you the trouble, our team has poured in its years of experience and research on how to get rid of bats home remedies in today’s article. You’ll find everything from why are bats a problem to how to remove them effectively and humanely. Let’s get started!
Why are Bats a Problem?
Bats are nocturnal beings who are active only at night. They also like to stay far away from human activity. So, even if your house is infested, the bats won’t disturb you.
They will stay hidden in attics, cellars, basements, and all the dark and warm places that you don’t use frequently. This might make you question; why should I bother removing them.
Well, bats may not seem a problem on the surface. But there are some unseen reasons why you should always get rid of bats in the house. These include:
1. Damage to Property
Guano is the biggest threat to your house structure. These dark, pellet-shaped bat droppings appear to be just like any other small animal’s poop. But they contain high amounts of uric acid, potassium, phosphate, and ammonium.
All of these compounds can erode metal, wood, clay, and brick structures. So, if bats are in the attic, huge piles of their guano and urine will collect on the attic floor over time. This will weaken the stability and integrity of the house.
Bat roosts can also destroy your house’s insulation system. Since repairing it can be quite expensive (with an average cost between $3000 to $10,000), homeowners should keep bats away from their properties.
2. Vector of Diseases
Bats are host to multiple parasites and germs. Their foul-smelling guano contains 63 different bacteria and 16 fungus species. And when this guano collects in the house, it rots and attracts even more pathogens.
This can lead to serious diseases in humans who live in the same atmosphere as bats. For example, if the fungus in guano accidentally enters a person’s lungs, it can trigger Histoplasmosis – a lung disease characterized by skin lesions, chest pain, and fever.
Similarly, if your open wound comes in contact with bat urine (dried or fresh), it can cause Leptospirosis – a fatal bacterial infection characterized by vomiting, fever, and permanent kidney or liver damage.
3. Bite Risk
Typically, bats don’t display aggressive and wild behavior. They will stay far away from all sources of danger. But if they feel threatened or endangered, they will attack to protect themselves.
This means the risk of bites and scratches still persists. What if your children wake up in the middle of the night to drink water and stumble upon a wandering bat? It can be dangerous!
And it’s not just about the pain and injuries. A bat can directly transmit many diseases through its bite, such as Salmonella and Rabies.
5 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Bats Quickly
Bats are a protected specie in the United States, UK, Canada, and several other countries. The government forbids it to kill or harm bats in any way. So, you must remove bats from your house humanely and naturally.
Here are some tried-and-tested home remedies to help you do that:
1. Scatter Mothballs
Mothballs are mainly made up of naphthalene. This compound is responsible for two things;
- producing a strong acidic smell that bats hate
- releasing mildly toxic fumes into the air (doesn’t poison a bat – only deters it)
So, when you scatter these naphthalene balls near bats, they immediately sense the smell and leave your house.
However, since naphthalene balls have mildly toxic fumes, it’s important to keep them in a closed environment for best results. For example, you can use them for a bat-infested cabinet or cupboard. Also, wear a mask and gloves while handling them.
2. Place Cinnamon Sticks
Cinnamon has a warm, peppery, and woody scent that we all love. But for bats, this is an absolutely disgusting and irritating odor.
They will stay miles away from a house with this smell. So, a quick and simple solution to deter bats is placing cinnamon sticks near the roost.
If you don’t have cinnamon sticks, use a cinnamon candle or air freshener to spread the scent. However, if there are no bats in sight, create a natural bat repellent.
To do so, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of finely powdered cinnamon in 4 cups of lukewarm water. Mix the solution, filter it, and transfer it into a spray bottle. Use this mixture generously over the dark and warm corners, where you suspect a bat’s roost.
3. Throw in Shiny Things
Shiny things reflect light, and bats hate light. These nocturnal creatures love to dwell in the darkest and dampest corners. So, if you have found a huge bat nest in your attic or basement, the best way to get them out is by placing shiny things on the ground.
These may include aluminum foil sheets, shiny balloons, and even leftover Christmas tree decor. You can also place mirrors on the floor and open the light. This will reflect light in every corner and make the infested room bright – forcing the bats out.
4. Place a Heater or Chiller
Most bat species (like little brown bats and Eastern red bats) maintain a body temperature between 37 to 40 degrees Celsius in resting position. But when they are active at night, they need slightly warmer temperatures (above 40 degrees Celsius).
This means if you lower the temperature or increase it way too much, the environment will become unsuitable for the bats. They will have to move out eventually. So, just place a heater or chiller in the infested area and let it work its magic!
5. Diffuse Essential Oils
Essential oils are a popular solution for all types of pests. Be it cockroaches or gnats – the herbal fragrances drive out every unwanted creature easily.
For bats, we recommend using lavender, cedar, eucalyptus, clove, and peppermint oil. Just add a few drops to your diffuser and let the machine spread the aromatic vapors in the air. Do it daily for 30 to 60 minutes until the bats leave.
However, if you don’t have a diffuser and don’t want to invest in one either, mix 5 to 6 drops of essential oil in 2 cups of water. Transfer the solution into a spray bottle and use it generously in the infested area.
How to Treat a Bat Infestation Yourself?
We already have discussed home remedies to drive bats out of your home. But remember these remedies alone will not be enough if you don’t seal their entry points. Another bat colony will find the space and settle down.
So, if you don’t want to spend hundreds on professional wildlife removal, here’s what you need to do to treat a bat infestation completely:
1. Inspect Your House
Bats like warm, dark, and tight spots. In a house, you will find them roosting in attics, chimneys, soffits, eaves, behind curtains, gaps between walls, and under insulation boards. You can also identify other hiding spots by looking for:
- Bat guano
- Scratching sounds
- Oily streaks on the walls
- Pungent odor
Mark all these roosting places and use the remedies discussed above to get the bats out. But first, make sure to go through the local laws on bat safety. If it’s a breeding or hibernation period, you might have to wait before removing them from the place.
2. Remove Attractants
Once the bats are out, you must clean the roosting place. This is because bats are attracted to the smell of guano. If another species of bat flies by, it will be drawn to the guano’s odor and will end up settling into the space.
Also, remember that bats love to dwell in places where a food source is already available. So, if there are any other insects (like moths), work on removing them too. All of this will make your home environment germ-free.
3. Close the Entry Points
Now, identify the entry points of the bats and seal them to prevent future infestations. These may include loose window frames, damaged roofs, and open chimneys or vents.
You can use simple caulk to repair the cracks or other DIY methods. But if you don’t have any prior experience, consider calling in experts to fix all the damage.
Summary
Bats are scary and harmful pests that should not be tolerated in a house at any cost. If you’ve spotted even one bat in your attic or cellar, make sure to remove it and prevent the entry of others.
And if there’s already an infestation, here’s how to get rid of bats home remedies:
- Scatter mothballs.
- Place cinnamon sticks.
- Throw in shiny things or place mirrors and turn the lights on.
- Lower or increase the temperature of the room (via a chiller or heater).
- Diffuse essential oils in the atmosphere
If none of these methods work, we highly recommend contacting a professional pest control company to get rid of these dangerous pests once and for all!