a group of bats resting on a wall

Bats

All bats in the Northeast are insect-eaters, making them environmentally and economically important. They are good to have around.

Bats

Beneficial Role: Biocontrol predators (insect eaters) 

All bats in the Northeast are insect-eaters, making them environmentally and economically important. They are good to have around.

There are two types of bats in the Northeast. Some species live largely solitary lives primarily in tree canopies and cavities and, like many birds, migrate south for the winter. Bats in the second group are communal and typically overwinter in caves and mines. These species, especially little brown bats and big brown bats, are most likely to be found in buildings.

a close up of a bat
Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). Photo by Jason Headley (CC BY-NC)
a group of bats clustered together along the edge of a ceiling
Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). Photo by inaturalist user maplereutzel (cc-by-nc)
  • Attics
  • Wildlife

 

 

What do bats look like? 

Batman got it right—you’re most likely to see bat silhouettes in the sky at dawn and dusk. Most bats that use buildings in the Northeast look surprisingly small hanging from the rafters, but actually have 9 to 12-inch wingspans.

Signs of Bats

You may also notice their poop, aka guano, which piles up beneath their hang-out spots and entry holes.
 

droppings on a messy attic floor
Bat droppings can be about the same size and shape as mouse droppings. However, they are often found in piles, created by roosting bats.

Should I worry about bats? 

Outdoors

Bats are one of those creatures that instill fear in people. (Thanks, Hollywood.) But many of those fears are overblown. Don’t take offense if a bat swoops at you outside—it’s not going after you like some birds do if you get too close to its nest. Instead, that bat is hungrily catching flying insects, including pesky mosquitos. And don’t worry about it getting stuck in your hair. Their use of precise echolocation helps find those small insects and prevents collisions with larger objects like you.

Indoors

If you find a bat in your room, it’s probably as shocked as you are. Sometimes the young get lost when learning to fly in late summer. If a bat gets trapped indoors or you find it on the ground, call a professional wildlife control operator. Always be cautious about the potential for rabies, especially if there is a possibility of direct contact with a person or pet. According to Paul Curtis, Cornell Extension Wildlife Specialist, "If a person wakes up in a room with a free-flying bat, and it’s unclear if there was actually an exposure, then the bat is usually tested for rabies. This is especially true if the person was a child, under the influence, or compromised in some way. All bat-related incidents should be reported to the local health department."

Guano, mold and histoplasmosis

Also of concern, bat guano can grow mold. One kind of mold, histoplasma, can cause respiratory problems due to histoplasmosis. Wear a protective mask when in places where bats have resided indoors.

Why Do I Have Bats in My Attic?

  • Beginning in the spring and into the fall, both little brown bats and big brown bats have “maternal roosts” consisting of females and the young-of-the-year congregating in the warm upper sections of buildings.
  • Bats can get through crevices as small as ¼” wide by 1 ½” long or holes ½” by ½”.
  • At night bats are mainly on the wing and hunting, but now and then they may relax a bit under your porch or breezeway.

How Do I Manage Bats?

Call a professional

If bats are in your belfry, call a professional. They’ll work with you at the right times of the year to close up crevices and holes that let bats in. Closing up entry holes in the summer could trap baby bats inside. Sources for assistance in locating professionals include your state’s wildlife agency, the National Wildlife Control Operators Association, and in New York State, the NYS Wildlife Management Association.

Bat Proofing

Bat-proofing of a building is best done with the use of check valves (one-way door devices), either homemade or commercial.

Protecting Bats

The legal status of bats varies from state to state. In New York, two species, the Indiana bat and the northern long-eared bat, are protected. However, the conservation of all bats is encouraged. This is particularly important since the populations of some bat species, especially the little brown bat, have been decimated by an introduced fungal disease, white-nose syndrome.

Due to the biocontrol benefits of bats, you may be interested in promoting bat habitat on your property.

a bat with mold growing on its face.
Little brown bat with white nose syndrome. Credit: Photo courtesy Al Hicks, New York Department of Environmental Conservation

Bat related links