There are bats in my house. What do I do?

It’s natural to feel nervous if you find out you have a bat roost in your house, but actually, it’s more common than you might think, and usually doesn’t cause any issues. Here, we will answer some frequently asked questions that will hopefully put your mind at ease.

Are bats going to damage my property?

The short answer is: no. Bats very rarely cause damage to property. Most of the time, people are actually unaware that they have bats in their homes in the first place. Bats don’t create roosts themselves like birds or rodents do - they simply use what is there and usually leave it unaltered. They squeeze into small crevices or hang from roof timbers and don’t cause damage to property. 

If there are a large number of bats roosting in a small and unventilated space, this is when they might start to cause an issue and you may need to contact a bat ecologist (like us!). Usually though, there are only low numbers of bats roosting in buildings and they will not cause an issue. If you have any concerns about bats living in your home, please contact us for advice. 

I want to develop my property, but I have bats. What are my options?

All bat roosts are protected under UK law, meaning that, if you have bats in your property, they are protected. This means that if you want to renovate or develop your property at all, you will need a bat mitigation licence before you can carry out the work. This is not as complicated as it sounds. You can usually continue with your work with minor alterations or time restrictions. For full details on the bat surveying and licence application process, please visit our ‘Bat Surveys - What You Need To Know’ blog, or contact us for advice on what bat services we can assist you with.

Aren’t bats really dirty?

Again, no. This is a common misconception about bats. They are actually very clean animals that groom themselves several times a day. Unless you have a large number of bats in a very small space, you shouldn’t be noticing any smells or increased mess.

Do bats cause disease?

You can’t catch any diseases from bat urine or faeces. Some bats do carry a rabies-like virus that can be transferred to people through bites and scratches. This very rarely happens because bats do not instinctively attack people or animals and will only do so if they feel threatened. To avoid this - do not approach or attempt to catch or handle bats. It is illegal to try to capture or disturb bats without a licence, and it is dangerous for yourself and the bat. If you believe capturing a bat is necessary, then contact a bat ecologist - like us.

If you do get scratched or injured by a bat, wash the area with warm soapy water for at least 5 minutes, and call 111 for advice.

What if there’s a bat flying around inside my house?

If there are bats flying around the residential part of your home, do not panic. It very likely entered through an open door or window, so make sure there are options for it to leave again through those same means by leaving doors and windows open. As mentioned above - you should not attempt to capture or transport a bat under any circumstances. Try to stay out of the bat’s way - stand outside or go to a separate room if possible. Contact a licensed bat ecologist, like us, and we can come to your property to help. This advice still applies if you believe the bat may be sick or injured - contact us!