Bats can be beneficial creatures—they eat thousands of insects each night, including mosquitoes and crop pests. But when they find their way into your home, they become less helpful and more hazardous. One of the primary concerns for homeowners is the potential risk of rabies. In this blog, we’ll explore what you should know about bats, their relationship with rabies, and why working with professional bat removal companies is the safest and most effective way to handle a bat problem.
How Do Bats Get in the Home?
Bats typically enter homes through small gaps, vents, or openings in the roofline or attic. Once inside, they can live in attics, chimneys, or even wall cavities.
They are most active at night and may go unnoticed for a while, especially if only one or two have made their way in.
While bats don’t chew wood or wiring like rodents, their droppings (guano) can cause structural damage, bad odors, and health hazards. Guano may also harbor a fungus that causes histoplasmosis, a lung infection. However, the most serious health risk associated with bats is rabies.
Do All Bats Carry Rabies?
The good news is not all bats carry rabies. In fact, only a small percentage of bats are infected. According to the CDC, less than 1% of all bats carry the rabies virus. However, because rabies is a fatal disease if left untreated, any contact with a bat should be taken seriously.
The risk of rabies increases significantly if:
- A bat is found indoors, especially in a bedroom or near a sleeping person.
- A bat is active during the day (bats are nocturnal).
- The bat is easy to approach or appears unable to fly properly.
How Rabies Is Transmitted
Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals. With bats, a bite or scratch is the most common way the virus is passed to humans or pets. Unfortunately, bat bites are often small and painless—you may not even know you’ve been bitten.
That’s why the CDC recommends that if you find a bat in your home and there’s a chance someone has had contact (especially a sleeping child or pet), you should not release the bat until it’s been tested for rabies. In many cases, the health department will recommend post-exposure treatment (rabies shots) as a precaution.
What to Do If You Find a Bat in Your Home
If you find a bat in your house, don’t panic—but don’t try to handle the situation alone either. Here’s what to do:
- Isolate the Bat: If possible, close the doors to the room and open a window to allow the bat to leave on its own. Do not touch the bat.
- Contact Professionals: Call your local health department and a licensed wildlife control expert. Bat removal companies specialize in safely removing bats from homes and identifying how they got in.
- Do Not Kill the Bat: If someone in your home may have been exposed, the bat should be captured for rabies testing. Professionals can do this without harming the animal.
- Check for a Colony: If one bat got in, there could be more. Bat removal companies can inspect your attic and other potential nesting areas.
- Seal Entry Points: After removal, it’s crucial to identify and seal any openings bats could use to get back inside. Experts can help “bat-proof” your home.
Why You Should Call Bat Removal Companies
Bat removal isn’t a DIY job. It requires special training, permits (in many states), and an understanding of both bat behavior and local wildlife laws. Most species of bats are protected, and harming them—intentionally or accidentally—can result in fines.
Here’s what professional bat removal companies bring to the table:
- Humane Removal: They use exclusion methods that let bats leave but not return.
- Inspection and Damage Assessment: They check for guano, urine stains, and any contamination in your attic or insulation.
- Decontamination and Cleanup: Professionals handle hazardous waste and sanitize affected areas.
- Prevention: They seal entry points and may install one-way exclusion devices to prevent re-entry.
Rabies Prevention and Pets
If you have pets, make sure they are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. Even indoor pets can come into contact with a bat if one gets inside your home. A single unvaccinated bite could be fatal or require euthanasia, depending on local laws.
Also, educate your family—especially children—not to touch bats or other wild animals, even if they appear injured or friendly.
Bats are an important part of our ecosystem, but they don’t belong in our homes. While rabies is rare in bats, the consequences are too severe to ignore. If you find bats roosting in your attic or flying around your home, your first step should be to contact experienced bat removal companies who can handle the situation safely and legally.
Don’t take risks with your health or your family’s safety. With the right help, you can protect your home, remove bats humanely, and enjoy peace of mind.