How to Get Rid of Bats in Your Home and Garden

Just the thought or the sight of bats brings an eerie feeling to some people, striking fear, but what if I told you that bats are beneficial in making their contribution to our ecosystem? Would this change your views? Some major roles bats play are helping to pollinate plants, fruit-eating bats disperse seeds, and bats provide pest control.  According to a recent report, one study showed that “bats consume enough pests, saving more than $1 billion per year in crop damage and pesticide costs in the United States corn industry alone”.

While this report and these facts showcase how beneficial bats are to our ecosystem, some people would rather not have them around. If that describes you, then continue reading to find out how to get rid of bats in your home garden or yard and prevent them from entering your home.

Signs of the Presence of Bats

• Seeing bats that are dead or alive.
• Piles of bat droppings near entry points.
• Bat droppings on attic insulation.
• Piles of droppings in one corner of your attic.
• The sound of small scratching or squeaking noises.
• Bat urine (oily stain) stains are seen on attic walls.
• A foul-smelling odor.

How to Manage Bats Around Your Garden

The key to making our home and garden unattractive to bats is to take away those sources that attract them, these sources include shelter or a roosting site, insect availability, ripened and fallen fruits, and a water source.

1. Shelter or Roosting Sites

Bats are very shy creatures and prefer to take shelter away from people and pets, some roosting sites include, caves, rock crevices, and man-made structures for example barns, houses, bridges, barns, attics, ice-houses, and other structures.

2. Insect Availability

Bats use insects as a food source, this biodiversity or community of bats interacting and feeding on insects helps bring balance to our ecosystem and while it may be a challenge to control the amount of insects that visit your yard or garden a little effort on your part to control or to reduce the presence of insects will discourage bats. Another challenge is that beneficial insects may also be impacted negatively.

3. Water Sources

Like rodents, bats are drawn to water sources, water bodies, and standing water will attract bats like a magnet. As much as possible, seek to cut off all water sources, for example, remove containers that collect water, including old, unused tires. A turkey baster can be used to remove water from the center cups of garden plants that collect and hold water. Make sure that all leaky pipes and faucets are fixed.

4. Remove all Fallen Fruits

Fallen fruits will not only attract bats but also mice, rats, and other rodents, including roaches and other insects that bats eat. Make sure that all fallen fruits are cleaned up and properly disposed of. Don’t allow ripe fruit to remain on trees because this can also attract fruit-eating bats.

5. Keep Trees and Shrubs Pruned

Because bats love quite sheltered areas where they can be hidden, don’t allow your trees or shrubs to become overgrown. Keeping shrubs and trees nicely pruned will control their growth, discouraging the presence of bats.

How to Manage Bats Around Your Home

Because bats love man-made structures to shelter, implementing these practices around your home will keep bats away.

1. Seal All Entry Points

If a bat is discovered in your home or building structures is a sign that they found an entry point, make sure that all entry points are sealed for example openings in your attic can be draped with netting, and gaps if especially large in your vents can be seal with foam and gaps in your roof can be sealed with cement, wood, metal or other construction material.

2. Ultrasonic Devices

These devices emit high-frequency sounds that are irritating to bats but not humans and will repel bats or discourage them from hanging around. Place ultrasonic bat-repellent devices in areas where bats may seek shelter.

3. Natural Repellents

Eucalyptus, peppermint, and cinnamon oils act as a natural repellent, bats hate the odor these oils emit and will stay away, mix a bit of oil with water in a 1 or 2-gallon sprayer and apply around the perimeter of your home, or property, in attics, basements and other areas where bats may seek to shelter.

4. Installing Bat Houses

If you discover that you have a bat issue in your area, consider the installation of bat houses away from your home in a designated area. This will encourage bats to this designated area, keeping them away from your home. Bat houses can be purchased online.

Another Alternative

Bats have been known to transmit disease through their bites or by scratching so be very careful when handling bats, another alternative is to call in a professional pest control company to do the job for you.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What’s the safest way to get rid of bats without hurting them?
The best way is to use a bat exclusion device, like a one-way door, which lets bats fly out but blocks them from getting back in. This method is humane, safe, and effective. Once they’re gone, seal up any entry points so they don’t return.

2. Why are bats getting into my house in the first place?
Bats love quiet, dark, and warm spots like attics, chimneys, or roof eaves. If your home has small cracks or holes—especially near the roof—they’ll squeeze right in. They’re not trying to bug you; they just want a cozy place to sleep during the day.

3. Can I use bright lights or loud sounds to scare bats away?
You can try, but it’s not always reliable. Bats may avoid bright lights and noise temporarily, but they often return once the coast is clear. A better long-term solution is exclusion and sealing off entry points.

4. Are bat repellents like sprays or mothballs effective?
Honestly, most store-bought bat repellents don’t do much. Bats are persistent and can tolerate a lot more than we think. Natural methods like bat cones or professional exclusion tools are usually more successful.

5. What time of year is ideal to remove bats?
The best time of the year to remove bats are late summer or early fall, after bat pups are old enough to fly. Avoid disturbing them during maternity season (spring to mid-summer), as baby bats can’t leave yet, and trapping them inside is harmful and illegal in many places.

6. How do I know if bats are living in my attic?
Look for signs like bat droppings (guano) under eaves, squeaking sounds at dusk, oily stains near holes or vents, or even spotting them flying out at twilight. A quick flashlight check in the attic may also reveal them hanging out.

7. Do I need to call a professional to remove bats?
If you don’t feel good about climbing around the roof or dealing with wildlife the it is best to contact Licensed wildlife control experts that know the laws, can safely install exclusion devices, and will make sure that bats are relocated without harm.

8. Can bats cause health problems?
Yes, though the risk is low if you don’t handle them. Bat guano can grow fungus spores that lead to a respiratory disease called histoplasmosis, and some bats may carry rabies. Always wear protective gear if you’re cleaning an infested area.

9. Once the bats are gone, how do I keep them out for good?
Seal all entry points with caulk, mesh, or foam—especially gaps around vents, chimneys, and soffits. You can also install bat-proof netting or screens and trim back tree branches near your roof to limit access.

10. What if I actually like bats but don’t want them in my home?
That’s great! Bats are super helpful for controlling insects like mosquitoes. Consider installing a bat house in your yard or near a tree. It gives them a safe place to roost, and they’ll stay out of your attic while still helping with pest control.

Conclusion

The presence of bats in your garden can prove beneficial, but if you desire to keep bats at bay then simply applying a few of these methods will provide you with a bat-free zone.