What could possibly be the benefit of bats hanging out in your attic? These tiny creatures are nocturnal… so they sleep during the day and do their hunting and damage throughout the night. As a consequence they may wake you up at night and will more than likely cause some form of damage to your property so you may need a bat repellent.

How do you know you have bats in your home? Bats usually leave a brown stain on the walls or ceilings where they are hanging out. These stains are usually accompanied by a fowl urine-like smell. If you notice these signs in your attic you may even be fortunate enough to see these bats flying about too! If there are no bats to be seen, you might want to do a thorough examination of the area for bat feces or droppings.

Why Use A Bat Repellent?

Bats are not normally considered a risk to humans but they are able to transmit disease. They are known for transmitting two diseases. The first is Histoplasmosis which is a fungal disease that is capable of causing flu-like sickness. The second disease that bats are known to transmit is rabies.

Besides their ability to transmit these diseases, bats are also able to damage fruit orchards and crops. If you are having problems with bats or suspect bats in your home, you probably should take steps to repel these tiny creatures.

Having said this, bats can be very hard to get rid of. Most people who have problems with bats invading their homes, hire a bat control expert. However, as a homeowner there are some steps you can take to bat-proof your home: bat-proofing might be your best form of bat repellent. Bat-proofing means sealing off all openings to your home or building where bats generally tend to enter. Using sheet metal or aluminum flashing is a good way to seal these openings and repel bats.

The best time to bat-proof your home is in late fall because bats are usually looking for a place to hibernate in the fall, or in late winter before they start looking for a summer home in your attic.

Bat Repellents

If you are unable to bat-proof, there are some bat repellents available. There is a pesticide Chaperone Squirrell and Bat Repellent which contains a pesticide called naphthalene. This bat repellent comes in the form of flakes or crystals that are spread on the attic floors or confined spaces where bats hang out. Although this repellent is a registered product, some people say it is not a good product to use because of its ingredients, which are said to be harmful and potentially dangerous to people and pets. Also many species of bat are endangered and so it is not perhaps a product that we should consider.

For further details of bat repellent products please see our reviews of specific bat repellents in our Animal Repellent Category.