Bats are active right now. Here’s how you can keep them out of your house
Jul 9, 2025, 4:22 PM | Updated: 4:41 pm
FILE: A bat, provided by the CDC. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
SALT LAKE CITY— Although many people associate bats with Halloween, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said summer and early fall are when they see an increase in conflicts with humans. Specifically, you may detect bats in your house.
You may encounter more bats between now and fall because babies, called pups, are currently learning to fly.
“Encounters with bats seem to spike in September,” DWR 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.”
Eighteen bat species are confirmed to live throughout the state, but the DWR said there may be others. Southern Utah is home to the most diverse population.
Bats may nest, referred to as roosting, in attics, unintentionally becoming unwelcome guests to homeowners and tenants.
Found bats in your house? Here’s what to do
The DWR said you should never attempt to touch a bat with bare hands. They carry rabies, a deadly virus that humans can contract.
Reach out to your local health department if your bare skin makes contact with a bat.
If the animal is inside one of your home’s living spaces, the DWR said you should turn off the lights, open a door and turn on exterior lights. Then, exit the room and give the bat time to fly out on its own.
You learn a lot about a person’s disaster personality when a bat enters the room…fight or flight? We have video evidence. 😂😂😂 https://t.co/18E7BSBuji pic.twitter.com/QhfNuucIUX
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) April 25, 2021
Still won’t leave? The DWR said you can remove it, but be gentle and cautious.
Wear heavy leather gloves while you place a container over the animal. Then, create a lid by sliding a piece of cardboard between the container and the place the bat is resting.
Transport it outside and release it onto a high object, like a tree.
What about the attic?
Attic bats are most likely to be detected after giving birth, when they increase activity to support milk production to feed their pups. That period coincides when young bats are beginning to fly.
If you find bats in your attic, you will need to wait until the pups can fly.
“Then you can safely, humanely and permanently address the problem,” Hersey said.
Next, reach out to a nuisance control company that is permitted by the DWR.
“From June to August is the hardest time of year for dealing with bat nuisance issues,” Hersey said.
Pups are still reliant on their mother’s milk for nourishment, so evicting them can unintentionally kill young bats, or cause adult bats to unintentionally enter your home in search of their children.
“Because bats are a protected wildlife species, it’s illegal to kill them,” Hersey said. “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.”
What draws bats in?
When food and water sources aren’t plentiful, bats migrate or hibernate. Per the DWR, five Utah species migrate each year.
Others choose to stay in caves, mines or cliff crevices. In the eastern U.S., bats tend to hibernate in large groups. Contrastingly, in the west, they choose smaller groups or solo hibernation.
Townsend’s big-eared bats roost in a cave. (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)
When it’s time to give birth, typically in May or June, female bats emerge from hibernation or return to Utah. They may opt for your attic, as they favor environments that are warm, dark and perceived as safe.
A Townsend’s big-eared bat in Crystal Cave. Many western bats choose to hibernate alone or in small groups inside caves and cliff crevices. (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)
Keeping bats out
The DWR said there are a few things that can be done to prevent bats from entering your home.
Bats prefer warm environments. Cooling your attic will dissuade them from roosting up there.
Look for openings on the exterior of your home, such as gaps in siding, chimneys or roof lines. If there are not any bats in you attic, seal them up as soon as possible.
However, if bats have already taken up residence, you will need to wait until autumn when they vacate.
According to the DWR, if you have bats already, you can place bird netting over the outside of an opening after Aug. Staple the top and sides, leaving the bottom open. They will be able to leave but can not re-enter.
After all the bats in your house have left, you can seal the hole.
Related: An Ogden bat tested positive for rabies. Here’s what you should do
