What to do about bats? DWR provides tips for safety and preventing conflicts

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is sharing tips to prevent conflicts with bats, just in time for the summer season, when they say baby bats (called pups) start exploring the world around them.

18 native species of bats call Utah home, but DWR says that there may be more. Southern Utah has the most diverse species in the state; however, you’re likely to find them anywhere in the Beehive State. Five migratory bat species from Utah fly south during the fall and return in April and May.

“Encounters with bats seem to spike in September as the migratory species — especially the Mexican free-tailed bat — move around Utah,” Mammal Conservation Coordinator Kimberly Hersey is quoted in a press release.

Bats in Utah mainly rely on standing water, using it as a water and food source, as it attracts insects. Female bats require more water and nutrients to nurse their young. Alongside standing water, bats will seek out shelter, and sometimes that might be your attic.

“There are a few simple things that homeowners can do to prevent conflicts during these times of year when bats are the most active,” Hersey explained in the release.

Bats in the attic

According to DWR, groups of bats that roost in attics are usually females with their babies. They come out of hibernation or return to Utah and find a safe place to give birth. People might not notice bats have moved in until after their pups are born.

Hersey shared that June through August is the “hardest time of year” when it comes to bat nuisance issues. Bats are a protected wildlife species in Utah, and it is illegal to kill them. Trying to keep the mother bats away may cause their babies to die.

“Unless there is a human health and safety issue where bats are coming into close contact with people, we do not permit bat colony removal during this time of year… Although it may be inconvenient, you should wait until the young can fly, and then you can safely, humanely and permanently address the problem,” Hersey explains in the press release.

If you suspect that bats have started roosting in your attic, DWR recommends contacting a permitted wildlife nuisance control company to help address the issue. That company can coordinate with DWR to find the best time to remove the colony without harming any bats.

A bat inside the house

If a bat makes its way into your home, DWR stresses that it should not be handled with bare hands because it can be a carrier of rabies. Rabies is deadly in animals, including humans, and if you do make physical contact with a bat, contact your health department as soon as possible.

Before trying to capture the bat, open a door or window, turn off indoor lights and turn on the porch light and leave the room. The bat should be able to make its way back outside on its own. If it doesn’t, DWR says to use the following tips to safely capture and remove it:

• Wear heavy leather gloves and place a small box or can over the bat. 
• To create a lid, slide a piece of cardboard between the can and the surface where the bat was located (usually a wall or curtain), enclosing the bat inside the container.  
• Then, take the bat outside and release it on a tree or other high object. 

If bats are roosting on a porch or overhang, DWR recommends hanging streams, balloons or other objects that will move with a breeze. This motion will dissuade them from roosting in that area, DWR says.

How to prevent bats from moving in

Even if your home is free from bats, it’s important to make sure that they don’t take up residence while you’re not watching. DWR recommends keeping your attic cool with fans to make it uncomfortable for bats during the summer months.

Inspecting the outside of your house for any openings or gaps is also important. DWR says that siding, chimneys and roof lines are good places to check.

After August, when bat pups aren’t flying around anymore, DWR recommends placing bird netting over any exterior openings. The department says to staple down the top and sides, but leave a gap open for any remaining bats to escape.

Once you’re certain there aren’t any bats in the attic, DWR says that you can take down the netting and seal those cracks and holes with caulking, hardware cloth, foam rubber, sealant, tar paper and chimney caps.

For more information about bats in Utah, visit Wild Aware Utah’s website.