Bat Identification & Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions About Bats

What are bats?

Bats are mammals that live throughout Maryland. Ten different species of bats call the Baltimore area home and regularly find their way into our yards. Bats are not rodents; they belong to the order Chiroptera, which means “hand-wing.” Bats have four limbs – two legs and two arms with the same bone structure as the human hand. A leathery membrane covers their arm bones and “hand” to create their “wings.”

Their large ears provide bats with excellent hearing. Though bats have better sight than most people think, some species also use echolocation to locate their prey. Bats that use echolocation squeak while in flight and use the echo to navigate. 

Are bats dangerous?

Bats are harmless to people when they live outside, away from our yards and homes, and we greatly benefit from their ability to control nuisance insect populations. But, when they come to our yards to hunt for food and roost, they are dangerous and need to be removed. Keeping bats away from our properties is necessary because bats carry and spread bacteria, parasites, and pathogens that can make us ill.

Some bats carry and spread rabies, and their feces contain a fungus that can cause lung diseases. Though bats are not aggressive, they will bite to defend themselves if they feel threatened or fearful. Because of their ability to transmit rabies, if you ever come into close contact with a bat and are concerned that you may have been bitten, you should seek medical attention right away.

Why do I have a bat problem?

Bats become a problem in any outdoor space with a lot of insect activity, standing water, and roosting sites. Unfortunately, Baltimore backyards and homes offer bats resources for all of their essential needs. The more comfortable bats become in your outdoor space, the more likely they will eventually find their way inside your home. Bats are small and take advantage of minor defects in our homes that offer entry points. Wall voids, attics, and chimneys provide bats with safe, dry, quiet roosting sites. Because bats in houses tend to roost out of sight in hard-to-reach areas, it is always best to partner with a professional to remove these unwanted guests from your home.

Where will I find bats?

Bats are nocturnal. They roost during the day and are most active at dusk, when most of their insect prey is active. If bats live on or near your property, it is common to spot them swooping around your yard as they hunt.

In addition to our Baltimore homes, bats regularly roost in garages, sheds, barns, trees, rocks piles, and woodpiles.

Along with seeing bats swooping around your property, the following are signs that bats are comfortable in or around your yard.

Where will I find bats?

Bats are nocturnal. They roost during the day and are most active at dusk, when most of their insect prey is active. If bats live on or near your property, it is common to spot them swooping around your yard as they hunt.

In addition to our Baltimore homes, bats regularly roost in garages, sheds, barns, trees, rocks piles, and woodpiles.

Along with seeing bats swooping around your property, the following are signs that bats are comfortable in or around your yard.

Along with seeing bats swooping around your property, the following are signs that bats are comfortable in or around your yard.

• Noticing an unpleasant ammonia-like odor in your home, especially on a warm day. 
• Strange scratching or squeaking noises coming from behind your home’s walls.
• Regularly spot bats flying near your home’s exterior.
• Discovering dead bats on your property.
• Finding piles of bat droppings on your property. Bat droppings are dark in color, a bit larger than a grain of rice, and shaped like a rugby ball. 

If you are concerned that bats have become comfortable on your property, contact us at ATC Pest Control to learn more about the best bat control in Baltimore.

How do I get rid of bats?

Don’t try to remove bats on your own. DIY bat control is ineffective, time-consuming, expensive, and potentially dangerous. The best way to remove these pests from your property is to partner with a local bat control professional.

At ATC Pest Control, we know the bats in our region, where to find them, and how to safely remove them from Baltimore properties. We offer high-quality services that you can trust to solve your bat problem and the regular services necessary to prevent their future returns.

Remember, when quality counts, COUNT ON US! Call today to learn more about bat control and our other residential and commercial pest control services!

How can I prevent bats in the future?

Maintaining your yard and home is the best way to avoid problems with bats. Take advantage of the following bat control tips. 

• Use a strong material like steel wool to fill in holes that develop in your home’s roofline or exterior walls.
• Make sure window screens are tight-fitting and void of rips or tears.
• Keep caps on chimneys and mesh covers over vents.
• Make sure trees and shrubs are cut back from your home’s exterior.
• Eliminate areas of standing water from your property. 

For high-quality bat control near you, please call us today.