Bats are fascinating mammals that play a vital role in the ecosystem, but it can be concerning when you find them in your home. Bats can be found across the United States and are typically drawn to quiet, dark spaces such as attics, barns, or sheds, where they can roost undisturbed. Some signs of bat activity can include:

  • Squeaking noises at night

  • Guano (bat droppings) accumulating near entry points

  • Strange stains on walls and ceilings

These adaptable animals typically enter homes through small cracks, vents, or gaps under eaves, seeking warmth and safety. If you find these animals in your house, you’re probably wondering, “Are bats dangerous?” Understanding why these primarily nocturnal critters enter your home and how to identify their presence is the first step in addressing potential issues.

bats in attic

Do bats bite humans or pets?

If you’ve noticed bats in or around your property, you’re probably thinking, “Do bats bite?” or “Do bats attack humans?” While most bats prefer to avoid humans and pets, there are situations where a bat may bite if it feels threatened or cornered, including:

  • Improper handling: Attempting to catch or remove a bat without proper equipment or experience can cause the bat to defend itself by biting.

  • Diseased or injured bats: A bat that is sick, disoriented, or injured may act unpredictably, increasing the chance of a bite if approached.

  • Defensive behavior: If a bat feels trapped or startled, it might bite as a last resort to protect itself.

Some bats may carry diseases, such as rabies, making them more aggressive or disoriented. Signs of a diseased bat can include:

  • Unusual activity: Seeing a bat during the daytime, especially in open areas, can indicate illness, as most bats are nocturnal.

  • Inability to fly properly: A bat that stumbles on the ground or struggles to take flight could be sick or injured.

  • Aggressive or erratic behavior: A bat that approaches humans or pets instead of avoiding them may be diseased.

If a bat bites you or your pet, seek medical attention immediately. Always contact a professional for safe and humane bat removal to avoid the risks associated with direct contact.

Are bats in the house dangerous to people?

Are bats dangerous? Because of the diseases they can carry and transmit, they can be. Some bats may carry diseases that can make them act more aggressive or disoriented. Bats can carry rabies, but transmission to humans or pets is rare when proper precautions are taken. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an infected bat, usually via a bite or, less commonly, when bat saliva enters an open wound.

Are bats harmful? They can be indirectly through their droppings, called “guano.” Their droppings can contain fungi, and when spores that grow in bat guano are inhaled, it can cause a lung infection called histoplasmosis. This fungus grows in soil enriched by bat or bird droppings, particularly in warm, humid environments like attics, caves, or other enclosed spaces.

bat eating fruit

How to get a bat out of your home

It can be fairly easy to tell if you have bats in your home. They are nocturnal creatures, so you may be able to spot them leaving and entering your property around dusk and dawn. Because some live in colonies, you may see many bats — sometimes hundreds — swooping in and out.

If you discover bats are living in your home or business, don’t try to remove them yourself. Healthy bats aren’t likely to attack humans as long as you don’t corner or harass them, but rabid animals are unpredictable, and there is no way to tell if they may be rabid.

Although there are usually a few human rabies cases each year in the U.S., because rabies is such a serious disease for humans, you should not take unnecessary risks. Additionally, many bat species are protected in areas of the U.S. There can be substantial fines, even to homeowners, for killing or removing protected species of bats.

These circumstances mean you don’t want to make bat removal a DIY project. Instead, enlist the help of a pest control professional who is aware of local, state, or federal regulations. Terminix professionals will customize a plan to help control any bats at your property and help prevent them from returning.

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