If there’s a bat in your house, you’ll need to get it out as soon as possible. For your safety and the safety of the creature, it is critical that you remain calm, prepare properly, and safely trap and release the bat or contact animal control.

Bats are fascinating creatures and an integral part of the ecosystem. But having one of these winged rodents in your home can be unpleasant and even dangerous!

Bats can spread disease—even if you don’t touch them. If the bat is dead, the risk of infection only increases, so you’ll want to avoid killing it. If you have a bat in your house, you must remove it quickly and carefully.

The first thing to do is take a deep breath and not panic.

Jerry

, the

car and home insurance

comparison app and homecare specialist, has your back! Just follow these carefully prepared tips on how to get a bat out of your house.

Let Jerry find you the best homeowners insurance policy for your needs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Shop Now

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

How to get a bat out of your house

To get a bat out of your house, you essentially have two options: you can contact a professional to remove the creature, or you can attempt to remove it yourself.

Removing it yourself

The first thing you need to know is that you should not, under any circumstances, kill the bat.

A dead bat can spread diseases even more easily than a living one. If you kill the bat, you’ll be putting yourself at an even greater risk of infection. Bats are also endangered and legally protected. Killing one not only damages the ecosystem but is also highly illegal and could result in a $20,000 fine per occurrence.

You should also be aware that bats are known to spread diseases, some of which are lethal and have no known cure. If you decide to remove the bat yourself, you will be putting yourself in harm's way.

If you’re aware of the risks, and would still like to proceed, here’s what you’ll need to do:

Get all pets and small children out of the area: A slow, careful approach is vital when trapping a bat. Any loud noises or sudden movements could send the creature scurrying. Pets and children should be cleared from the area to prevent them from startling the creature and reduce their risk of infection.

Wear protective clothing and eyewear: A bat can spread disease through the surfaces it touches, its feces, and its bite. Wear thick protective clothing and protective eyewear. This should reduce the risk of coming into contact with the bat and protect you from its bite.

Do not make sudden movements or chase the bat: To successfully trap the bat, you’ll need it to be calm and perched on something. Catching a flying bat is extraordinarily difficult and far more dangerous. Move up slowly and calmly toward the bat. If you accidentally startle the creature and it takes off, wait for it to land again before making another attempt.

Use a box or plastic tub to trap the bat: Place a cardboard box or plastic tub over the creature. You should move slowly and methodically until the last possible moment. Then, snap the trap down over the bat, quickly, but not forcefully. Slide the tub’s lid or a flat piece of cardboard underneath without lifting the box more than a crack. You can then flip the box over, but be sure to keep one hand on the lid to ensure that the bat is not able to escape.

Release the bat near a tree at a safe distance from your home: Carry the creature a good distance from your home before releasing it. Releasing it near a tree is best. Bats like to nest in trees. If it is released near a suitable roost, it is less likely to wander back your way.

Disinfect everything: Thoroughly disinfect the entire house, paying special attention to any areas you think the bat may have touched. Be very cautious when removing any bat feces. The bat’s droppings or “guano” are extremely infectious. Wear protective gear such as a face mask and thick rubber gloves.

Contact a professional

If you’re at all uncertain about taking on the bat yourself, calling animal control is a great option. This is the safest thing to do since bats can be dangerous and are a protected species. A professional will know how to safely and legally relocate the creature.

If you are not sure where the bat is roosting, or if it seems to be constantly in flight, you should definitely call a professional. They will know how to get a flying bat out of your house without risking infection.

Key Takeaway Bats carry deadly infectious diseases, so you need to be careful when dealing with them. They are also a protected species, so killing them is not an option. Wear protective gear and wait for them to land before attempting to capture them.

How to tell if a bat is living in your house

Bats are nocturnal and reclusive. They will not normally gravitate toward high-traffic areas. Unless a bat has wandered into the living space of your house, you may not be aware that they are nesting in your home. It’s important to be on the lookout for the warning signs of bats so that you can take action.

Places bats like to roost

Bats like to nest in quiet, dark, and out-of-the-way places, such as attics, rafters, and chimneys. They also prefer high-up areas. Older homes with many nooks and crannies are especially susceptible to bat infestation.

Signs that a bat is living nearby

Since bats are reclusive and quiet, you might not notice the animals themselves. However, you can keep a keen eye out for some telltale signs that they’re living in your house. These include:

The smell: Bats have a pungent odor, often described as smelling like burnt oranges or fungus.

Scratches: Bats enter your home through small gaps and cracks. They only need an opening the size of a quarter to squeeze through. You may see scratching and rub marks where they’ve been coming and going.

Droppings: Bat feces is a sure sign that they’re nesting in the area. The droppings will be small, shiny, and rounded oval pellets.

MORE: How to get a dead animal smell out of your car

How to prevent bats from getting into your house in the future

Once you’ve removed the bat from your house, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t get any more unwanted visitors. Follow these steps to prevent bats from getting into your house:

Fill any gaps or openings that a bat could use to get inside, such as gaps, cracks, open windows, etc. Use caulk, window screens, door runners, and chimney guards to seal up any openings.

Keep doors and windows closed when not in use.

Install bright lights in dim areas.

Use mothballs or cinnamon to repel bats.

Place shiny or reflective objects in high-risk areas. Bats are repealed by objects that reflect light. Hanging old CDs from a string in your attic is a good trick.

Does homeowners insurance cover bat removal?

Unfortunately, homeowners insurance will not typically cover bat damage or removal. This is because, like most pests, bats are seen as a preventable issue.

However, if the bats gained entry to your house through openings that were caused by a covered peril, home insurance should cover the cost of repairing that damage and sealing up any openings. While this won’t help remove the bat, it should prevent future infestations.

MORE: The 16 perils of home insurance

Finding affordable home insurance

The best way to prevent bat and other infestations is by keeping your house in tip-top shape. Avoid inviting these furry friends inside by quickly repairing any structural damages and sealing up any openings.

Quality home insurance can help with that. And

Jerry

can help you find quality home insurance for the most affordable rates.

Jerry is an

insurance

broker and the world’s #1 rated insurance app. Download the free app, and Jerry will pull customized quotes from the nation’s top insurers in as little as 45 seconds!

Once you pick a policy you like, Jerry will handle all the hassle of getting you switched over and canceling your old policy. From start to finish, the process only takes a few minutes.

“
Jerry
was wonderful! I used it for my auto and renters policies. I trusted it so much that I signed up my homeowners insurance under Jerry as well. All of the agents are amazingly nice and knowledgeable.” —Mary Y.

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

Are bats dangerous?

Yes, bats carry deadly infectious diseases, some of which have no cure. Being bitten by a bat, coming into contact with them, their feces, or surfaces they have touched can result in lethal infections.

Can a bat get out of your house on its own?

Yes, bats are quite skilled at getting in and out of places. They can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter. If you’ve found one inside of your house, however, it may be trapped. You can try opening a window or a door—it may leave on its own.

Save an average of 18% by bundling your home and auto insurance

Bundle your home and auto insurance with Jerry and save!

Try Jerry