Best bat repellents for attics and porches: Safe ways to keep bats away

Bats can be a major headache when they decide to live in attics and porches. The perfect environments for bats are warm areas that offer protection from predators and have an abundance of insects to feast on. Yet when bats move in, it can be a problem for homeowners. Bat guano (feces) builds up in a short period of time causing a foul smell and can create an unsanitary, hazardous environment filled with dangerous diseases and bacteria.

Bat repellents offer humane solutions for homeowners who want to keep their home free from bats, without harming the needs of the bats. Numerous bats are protected by law, and it is illegal to harm or disturb them in certain locations. That is why when it comes to choosing a bat repellent, people want to make sure they are using safe bat repellents for home use.

Understanding the Bat Problem

Bats love attics and porches because they provide them with an ideal living habitat. Attics protect bats from both predators and the weather, ensuring that they can escape the elements in safety while sleeping during daylight hours. The heat of the attic also allows them to regulate their body temperature, particularly in colder months.

Common Signs of Bat Presence

If people have a bat living in their attic or porch, they might notice:

• Droppings (Guano): The bats will leave droppings that can accumulate and cause a bad smell.
• Scratching or Fluttering Noises: Sounds coming from the attic, particularly during the night, point to bats.
• Sightings: Seeing bats fly around the porch or coming and going from an attic can be a sign of their presence.

Prevention First: Sealing Entry Points

The initial step in avoiding bat roosting in attics or balconies is identifying and closing all potential entries. Bats can get through tiny spaces so homeowners need to always be vigilant, looking for cracks, openings and holes that would enable bats to enter. Common entry points include:

• Gaps around windows
• Vents and chimneys
• Rooflines and eaves
• Areas where walls meet the roof

Closing these entries can greatly lessen the likelihood of bats entering the building.

Materials to Use

When sealing entry points, it’s important to use the right materials to ensure the job is done effectively. Some of the most commonly used materials include:

• Caulk: Perfect for sealing tiny cracks and gaps (particularly around windows and doors).
• Hardware Cloth: A metal screen that works well for blocking larger openings such as holes and vents in the exterior of the building.
• Foam Sealants: Ideal for these large gaps or for plugging leaks in walls and roofs but also offer insulation as well as resistance to weather damage.

Most of these items are easy to apply and work really well to keep bats from getting inside the home.

Timing Considerations

Timing is everything for sealing up entry points. Do not close up these holes during maternity season, generally from spring until early summer. This is when female bats have their babies and will frequently remain in the local vicinity to nurse them. During this time, if entry points are sealed, there is a danger of:

• Trapping young bats inside the attic
• Causing harm to the bats
• Violating wildlife protection laws

To avoid this, it’s best to wait until late summer or early fall, after the bats have exited to hibernate, before sealing up entry points.

Humane Bat Exclusion Methods

Human bat exclusion services prioritize the type of bat removal in a humane and safe way from attics, porches and other areas of homes to ensure no one is harmed.

1. Bat Valves

If people need to get rid of bats, bat exclusion valves are the perfect method to allow bats to leave an attic or porch and prevent them from returning. These are fitted over the access points and allow bats to leave but not re-enter.

Bat valves allow bats a one-way exit, so that they can fly away safely without becoming trapped inside. This way, it is possible to get rid of bats without harming them, giving them the opportunity to relocate to another roost site.

2. One-Way Exclusion Devices

These are called one-way exclusion devices because the bats can leave the area, but cannot re-enter. Such ports (usually made from a tube or funnel) are secured over entry or exit holes through which bats are entering. They are installed in a manner that allows bats to flow out but not back in.

Installation should be at night or early morning when bats are outside foraging. After they are in place, the devices should be monitored at regular intervals to verify correct functioning and that the bats are exiting safely.

Tip: Make Sure All Bats Have Exited Before Sealing Entry Points

It is very important to confirm that all bats have left the attic before the holes are sealed up. Closing the access points prematurely might trap the bats inside where they could be injured and may violate regulations regarding the protection of bats.

Exclusion devices are installed, and after a few days of monitoring, if all bats are clear of the premises, the openings are sealed. This is to secure a humane approach and ensure compliance with wildlife protection laws.

Best Bat Repellents for Attics and Porches

Below are the best bat repellents for attics options that provide safe and non-toxic methods to repel bats and ensure they are repelled without getting harmed.

1. Ultrasonic Devices

Ultrasonic products work by emitting ultrasonic frequency sound waves; these ultra-high frequency sound waves are nearly silent to humans but cause bats to flee the area. Those sounds interfere with the bats' echolocation and communication, making the area an uncomfortable one that they will want to leave.

• Placement: In order to make the most of the devices, place them close to entry points in the locations where people notice the most bat activity (attic, porch, etc). They are most effective when aimed at those areas of bat roosting and bat flying habits. Make sure they are directly in the path of the bat which increases their efficiency.
• Effectiveness: The effectiveness of ultrasonic devices is different according to the size of the region being treated, the quantity of bats it houses, or the construction materials used in the building. When in larger or heavily insulated regions, the sound waves may not be as effective in traveling, thus lessening deterrent effects. So, in keeping with this, these appliances are most effective with other repellent techniques.

Bird-X Transonic Pro Electronic Pest Repeller is a low-profile, electronic pest repellent that can be used in human and pet dwelling areas. Bird-X Transonic Pro pest repeller uses high- frequency sound waves to drive unwanted pests out of a given area. It is also perfect for use in the kitchen, basement, garage, workshop or shed. The Transonic PRO will not harm humans or non-rodent pets.

2. Natural Scents

Some bat repellent home remedies also include natural smells that bats hate, for instance peppermint, eucalyptus and cinnamon. The scent of these chemicals can be repugnant to bats, and they will not roost in their presence. 

• Application Methods: Apply natural oils with a spray bottle and spray them around entryways, soak cotton balls in the oils and tuck them into problem areas, or use a tiny portable diffuser throughout the day. This can be a natural, non-toxic means of discouraging bats.
• Limitations: The effects of essential oils are often temporary, as their scent fades over time. For sustained results, homeowners must regularly reapply the oils. Additionally, while these scents can be effective in small, contained spaces, they may not work as well in larger or more open areas like attics or porches.

This bat repellent is for the removal of bats in all those attics, blinds, wall voids, chimneys, and any other confined spaces, in which these animals might prefer to hide. It features natural, essential oils and is supplied in easy to use "place packs".

3. Visual and Auditory Deterrents

It is recorded that bats are averse to bright, shiny surfaces. Things such as aluminum foil, Mylar balloons, or mirrors can be placed around entry points or roosts. The light bouncing off such shiny areas is confusing and annoying for bats, and they will avoid such a space.

• Motion-activated lights and auditory deterrents, such as loud noises or distress calls, can also deter bats' roosting behavior. These work either by startling the bats or by turning the area into one that is dynamic and uncomfortable.
• Wind chimes or decoys (such as fake owls or snakes) can also be used to deter bats. As the chimes and decoys move, they make sounds that simulate the presence of predators, which bats naturally shun. This can be a very easy and effective method to discourage bats from roosting in a specific location.

The Bird B Gone Scare Eye Diverter 5PK is an easy-to-use bird deterrent made from durable plastic. These visual scares use mirrored reflection and predator eyes to frighten away birds. Good for preventing pests in gardens, patios and elsewhere without injuring the birds.

Alternative Roosting Option: Installing Bat Houses Away from the Home

Building a bat house is a great way to give bats cover and a place to raise their young ones. These purpose built structures mimic the roosting conditions bats seek at the home; they are a more appropriate and much safer alternative.

Bat houses placed in the yard or in more distant places from the house will attract bats without exposing them and they will gradually get used to an environment they find benign.

Benefits

Bat boxes provide bats a peaceful place to roost, discouraging them from roosting in other places, including the eaves. Bats can still serve their role in the ecosystem (e.g., insect control) at a safe distance from the home. Houses offer roosting space for bat colonies that can encourage bats to settle down and also do not harm structures.

Placement Tips

A bat house is only as good as its location, and proper placement is the key to the bat house’s success. Here are some tips to increase the chances of attracting bats:

• Height: Mount the bat house 10 to 15 feet above the ground. The bats like to roost up above because it is safe from predators and provides them a good vantage point.
• Location: Hang the bat house in a side or rear corner of a yard, with a clear flight path, out of direct sun, and at least 12-15 feet above the ground. Bats tend to avoid areas with high noise levels or constant disturbance.
• Orientation: The bat house should be south or southeast facing getting the most morning sun. This helps control the temperature within the bat house, which is essential for the bats to survive, particularly while it is cooler.

Cleaning Up After Bats

It is important to deal with bat droppings to avoid risk to health and ensure the home is a safe place to live. Bat guano can harbor dangerous diseases, so be careful when cleaning and disposing of bat droppings.

Safety Precautions

Make sure to always use very thick rubber gloves when cleaning up bat droppings, which might be carrying harmful bacteria, or fungi that cause diseases such as histoplasmosis.

• Protect yourself from inhaling dust or fungal spores from bat guano that could result in respiratory problems with an N95 respirator mask.
• Think about buying goggles or wearing safety glasses to make sure to protect the eyes.
• Never touch bat feces with the bare hands to prevent infection.

Cleaning Methods

Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter to remove bat droppings from textured surfaces, this will help minimize the spread of dust.

• After vacuuming, wash the contaminated sites with a disinfectant which is also effective against viruses and fungi (a solution with water and bleach in the proportion of 1:10 or a commercial disinfectant).
• Brush vigorously where guano has accumulated, especially walls, floor and beams.
• After scrubbing, rinse the affected surfaces with fresh water to eliminate any remaining disinfectant and dirt.

Disposal

Put bat guano in a plastic bag that can be sealed and throw it away in the garbage. It is not something to throw casually into the garbage.

• Any clothes, mops or gloves in contact with bat droppings should be thrown away safely. These articles should be placed in a plastic bag, sealed, and then discarded in the trash.
• After cleaning, disinfect any tools (vacuum, brushes, etc.) used to prevent contaminated objects in other parts of the home.

The Bottom Line

Managing bats in attics and porches is critical to maintaining a safe and healthy home. The best bat infestation treatment is to work on a safe solution that is harmless to the bats as well. By adding bat houses nearby, bats have a safe home to roost without invading the homestead.

If interested in products that help with bat control without harming bats, Growcycle has plenty including ultrasonic bat repellents, natural bat deterrent home remedy. Their products provide effective ways to manage bat issues while maintaining a humane approach.

Disclaimer: This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for legal, medical, financial, or any other form of professional advice.

About the Author

Victor Miller

Environmental Journalist Focused on Sustainable Agriculture

Victor Miller is an environmental journalist at Growcycle, specializing in sustainable agriculture. With a passion for storytelling, he highlights the latest trends, innovations, and practices that promote ecological balance and responsible farming.