Tips to avoid bats in the belfry

MORGAN COUNTY—Although they serve a great, and important role in the ecosystem, bats aren’t creatures that people really want to interact with in close proximity. Bats can carry diseases like rabies, and even interacting with their droppings can cause adverse health effects. As the old saying goes, however, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has some important tips for protecting these animals, and residents as well.  

“Encounters with bats seem to spike in September as the migratory species, especially the Mexican free-tailed bat, move around Utah,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Mammal Conservation Coordinator Kimberly Hersey said. “However, there are a few simple things that homeowners can do to prevent conflicts during these times of year when bats are the most active.” 

Residents may see a spike in bat activity in May-June, as this is typically the time when female bats have their babies. It’s during this time that they will seek out a safe place to have their babies and increase their activity, (feeding and seeking out food) to support their ability to feed their young. 

“From June to August is the hardest time of year for dealing with bat nuisance issues,” Hersey said. “Since the young can't fly yet and are reliant on their mother’s milk, preventing the mothers from returning to their roosting spot will kill the babies. Because bats are a protected wildlife species, it’s illegal to kill them. I've also seen where poorly timed removals can lead to bats in attics suddenly finding their way inside someone’s home because the mothers are trying to reach their young. So, unless there is a human health and safety issue where bats are coming into close contact with people, we do not permit bat colony removal during this time of year. However, you can take action to prevent them from getting into the living areas of your home. Although it may be inconvenient, you should wait until the young can fly, and then you can safely, humanely and permanently address the problem.” 

The Utah DWR advises residents to avoid touching bats if at all possible, and to seek medical attention if contact occurs. The simplest way to get rid of a bat is generally to turn on lights inside, and a porch light outside, allowing the bat to leave on its own. If the bat refuses to leave on its own, the following tips could prove helpful:

• Wearing heavy leather gloves, place a small box or can over the bat. 

• To create a lid, slide a piece of cardboard between the can and the surface where the bat was located (usually a wall or curtain), enclosing the bat inside the container.  

• Then, take the bat outside and release it on a tree or other high object. 

Residents can also prevent bats from roosting in their homes or attics by making it an inhospitable place for bats to live. If a bat feels like your home isn’t a great place to live and rear its young, it won’t stay long. Fortunately, many things that make a home comfortable for people are uncomfortable for bats.

• Cool an attic with fans to make it uncomfortable for bats to take up residence.

• Inspecting the outside of the building for openings and gaps in siding, chimneys and roof lines.

• Sealing cracks and holes with caulking, hardware cloth, foam rubber, foam sealant, tar paper and chimney caps. Do not do this, however, when bats have pups from May through August. Fall is the best time to seal these openings, especially when bats are vacating their roosts.

• After August, when the young can fly, residents can also place bird netting over an exterior opening. Staple it down at the top and the sides, leaving the base open. Bats will be able to drop down the netting to leave, but cannot reenter the roost. Leave the netting in place for four to five days or until all the bats have left, and then seal the holes.

More information about bats, their contributions to the ecosystem, the dangers they present, and how to prevent their roosting can be found at wildawareutah.org.λ