How To Get Rid Of Bats In The Cottage

Something most cottagers are familiar with, and something I have written about before, are Brown Bats Yes, those little winged rodents that swoop and fly around in the night air catching flies, apparently using nothing but a very well developed radar system.

I hadn't really given much thought to bats lately, because I don't have a bat problem, at least not that I know of, knock on wood....I hope I don't...but I do have a co-worker who was telling me today about having 4 in her attic, and wondering if I knew what to do about that...what to do about bats in the belfry so to speak.

Well...as I am an expert on absolutely nothing, as it says in the disclaimer at the bottom of this page, I proceeded to tell her some things she could do....then I got to wondering if I had a clue at all about how to get bats out of the house.

However, here are some of the things I suggested.....

1) Put a bat house on the outside of the house, or a nearby tree, get them going to that instead of inside the house. Wondering what a bat house looks like, or how to build a bat house? Here is a site to show you how here and another one Here There is also a picture and link to a bat house you can buy at the bottom of this post.

2) Stand outside the house at dusk and try to see where they are getting in and out. Just about dusk on a clear night, they should start out for their nightly flights. Once you figure out where they are coming in and out, wait until the next night when they are all out, and plug the hole. Steel wool works pretty good in the short term, although you should replace it with calking or wood later on. Just be sure they are all out before you close the entrance/exit. Some folks fasten netting with wood strips sealed on the top and two sides open on the bottom. Apparently they can get out through the bottom, but not back inside.

3) If you get inside the attic during the night when they are outside, spray an animal repellant where you think the bats hang out. Might even be worth trying one of the stronger fly sprays, like Muskol or Deep Woods Off.

4) Hanging mylar balloons or strips of tin foil in the attic that will flutter and move with any little wind might discourage them from staying.

5) Installing several bright lights in the attic and leaving them on 24-7 may also discourage bats from hanging around. Remember, they like dark places. Take away the darkness and they may change their mind. Just be cautious with lights on all the time because of fire hazards.

6) Moth balls....some folks say throwing moth balls around the attic will discourage bats and mice from making your attic their home. However, I've also read that you would need so many moth balls to be effective, they would actually become a danger to your health. I think I would still place some around the attic, just don't get carried away.

If you manage to get the bats to go outside of your cottage, but you still want the little critters around to keep the insects in check, I'd go with a bat house, and if you don't want to build one, here is one you can buy, this is the
Woodlink NABAT Audubon Bat Shelter

If none of the above works, I suggest you call in a professional. It's possible your little home away from home has also become a home to a bat colony, lots of bats....and in those cases, which usually include a mother bat and babies, it can be very difficult to get them out. A professional may be needed.