Bats

Homeowner, rental or HOA

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Most conflicts with bats can be prevented by ensuring your home and other buildings are sealed properly to impede bats from entering. Bats can fit through holes or slots as small as one-half of an inch.
• Provide bats alternative shelter, such as a specifically designed bat house. More information is available from Bat Conservational International.

Around home

• Check your home and other structures for gaps that bats may use for entry. Pay special attention to eaves, soffits, rooflines, vents, and chimneys. Ensure attic and vent screens are intact and cap chimneys to prevent bats from entering.
• Bats eat insects, which can be attracted to lighting outside and inside buildings. Bats do not seek human-provided food.
• Use motion-activated or downward-shielded lighting to reduce insect concentrations near buildings.

Pets and livestock

• Vaccinate pets for rabies as recommended by your veterinarian.
• If a pet has contact with a bat, consult a veterinarian and your local health department.
• Keep pets indoors at night when possible.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• If a bat is found in a living space, close interior doors, turn off lights, open windows to the outside, and allow the bat to leave on its own.
• If bats are entering a home, wait to exclude them until the young can fly—typically late summer. Before that time, install one-way doors that allow bats to exit but not re-enter. After bats leave, permanently seal the opening with durable materials such as hardware cloth, caulk, or metal flashing.
• Avoid exclusion during the maternity season (typically May–mid-August) to prevent trapping flightless young inside.
• If a bat had direct contact with a person or pet, contact your local health department or veterinarian.

Lethal methods

• Bats are protected in Michigan. Lethal control of bats is not permitted except for human safety issues.
• If bats are creating a health or safety concern, contact a nuisance animal control company for assistance with lawful exclusion. Type “bat” into the search box on the directory page to find a company licensed for managing bats. You can also apply for a permit for lethal removal.
• If you suspect a public health risk, such as possible exposure to rabies, contact your local health department.

Local government

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Most conflicts with bats can be prevented by ensuring buildings and other structures are sealed properly to impede bats from entering. Bats can fit through holes or slots as small as one-half of an inch.
• Provide bats alternative shelter, such as a specifically designed bat house. More information is available from Bat Conservational International.

Your community

• Have staff inspect community buildings for holes or gaps bats may use for access. Seal any openings with durable materials, install chimney caps and maintain vent screens. Avoid exclusion during the maternity season (typically May–mid-August) to prevent trapping flightless young inside.
• Board up or secure abandoned buildings that can serve as roost sites.
• Bats eat insects, which can be attracted to lighting outside and inside buildings. Bats do not seek human-provided food.
• Use motion-activated or shielded lighting that reduces insect concentrations around public buildings and parks.
• Ensure dumpsters and waste containers are kept closed to reduce insects that may attract bats.

Pets and livestock

• Educate residents about pet vaccination for rabies and the importance of keeping pets inside at night.
• If a bat is found within a residence or has had contact with a pet, advise residents to contact their veterinarian and local health department.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Excluding bats by installing one-way doors and sealing entry points is the most effective and humane method for resolving bat conflicts. Avoid exclusion during May–mid-August to prevent trapping flightless young inside.
• Provide bats alternative shelter, such as a specifically designed bat house. More information is available from Bat Conservational International.

Lethal methods

• Bats are protected in Michigan. Lethal control of bats is not permitted except for human safety issues.
• If bats are creating a health or safety concern, contact a nuisance animal control company for assistance with lawful exclusion. Type “bat” into the search box on the directory page to find a company licensed for managing bats. You can also apply for a permit for lethal removal.

Business or school

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Most conflicts with bats can be prevented by ensuring buildings and other structures are sealed properly to impede bats from entering. Bats can fit through holes or slots as small as one-half of an inch.
• Provide bats alternative shelter, such as a specifically designed bat house. More information is available from Bat Conservational International.

Grounds

• Have maintenance staff inspect buildings for gaps or holes along rooflines, soffits, and vents. Seal openings with durable materials and keep vent screens intact. Avoid exclusion during the maternity season (typically May–mid-August) to prevent trapping flightless young inside.
• Lighting on buildings can attract insects and subsequently bats. Use motion-activated or shielded lighting to reduce insect activity near structures.
• Ensure trash receptacles, dumpsters and cafeteria waste containers are kept closed to reduce insects that may attract bats.

Pets

• Encourage staff or visitors who bring pets to school grounds to maintain current rabies vaccinations.
• Pets should not be allowed to investigate bats found on the ground.
• If a bat is found within a building or has had contact with a pet, advise the owner to contact their veterinarian and local health department.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• If bats enter interior spaces, open exterior windows, close interior doors, turn off lights and allow the bat to exit.
• If someone finds a dead bat indoors or handles a bat, contact your local health department.
• Exclusion using proper one-way doors is the most effective resolution. Avoid exclusion during May–mid-August to prevent trapping flightless young inside.
• Provide bats alternative shelter, such as a specifically designed bat house. More information is available from Bat Conservational International.

Lethal methods

• Bats are protected in Michigan. Lethal control of bats is not permitted except for human safety issues.
• If bats repeatedly enter occupied areas, contact a nuisance animal control company for assistance. Type “bat” into the search box on the directory page to find a company licensed for managing bats. You can also apply for a permit for lethal removal.

Agriculture

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Most conflicts with bats can be prevented by ensuring homes, barns and other structures are sealed properly to impede bats from entering. Bats can fit through holes or slots as small as one-half of an inch.
• Provide bats alternative shelter, such as a specifically designed bat house. More information is available from Bat Conservational International.

Your farm or orchard

• Inspect barns, sheds, and other outbuildings for gaps that may provide roost sites. Seal openings with durable materials, maintain vent screens, and cap chimneys.
• Store hay, equipment, and other materials so as not to create warm, protected roost areas.
• Bats eat insects that are often agricultural pests, but do not seek agricultural crops as food.
• Outdoor lighting can attract insects and subsequently bats. Use motion-activated or shielded lighting that reduces insect concentrations near barns, sheds, and outbuildings.

Pets and livestock

• Vaccinate pets and livestock for rabies as recommended by your veterinarian.
• If a pet has contact with a bat, consult a veterinarian and your local health department.
• Keep pets indoors at night when possible.
• Keep livestock areas clean to minimize insects that may attract bats.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Exclusion using proper one-way doors is the most effective resolution. Avoid exclusion during May–mid-August to prevent trapping flightless young inside.
• Provide bats alternative shelter, such as a specifically designed bat house. More information is available from Bat Conservational International.

Lethal methods

• Bats are protected in Michigan. Lethal control of bats is not permitted except for human safety issues.
• If bats repeatedly enter occupied areas, contact a nuisance animal control company for assistance. Type “bat” into the search box on the directory page to find a company licensed for managing bats. You can also apply for a permit for lethal removal.

Airport

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Most conflicts with bats can be prevented by ensuring hangers and other structures are sealed properly to impede bats from entering. Bats can fit through holes or slots as small as one-half of an inch.
• Provide bats alternative shelter, such as a specifically designed bat house. More information is available from Bat Conservational International.

Around buildings

• Inspect hangars, terminals, and storage buildings for gaps along rooflines, vents, and soffits. Seal openings with durable materials, maintain vent screens, and cap chimneys.
• Avoid excluding bats during the maternity season (typically May–mid-August) to prevent trapping flightless young inside.
• Lighting on buildings can attract insects and subsequently bats. Use motion-activated or shielded lighting near buildings and operational areas to limit insect concentrations.
• Secure food waste and outdoor garbage containers to reduce insects that may attract bats.

Airfields

• Reduce bat roosting opportunities by keeping vegetation short and removing structures that provide warm, sheltered spaces.
• If bats are found grounded or disoriented, avoid handling them. Contact airport wildlife staff or a nuisance animal control company. Type “bat” into the search box on the directory page to find a company licensed for handling bats.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• If bats enter interior spaces, open exterior windows, close interior doors, turn off lights and allow the bat to exit.
• If human exposure to a bat may have occurred, contact your local health department.
• Eliminating access to roosting sites is the best way to manage bat issues. Avoid exclusion during May–mid-August to prevent trapping flightless young inside.
• Provide bats alternative shelter, such as a specifically designed bat house. More information is available from Bat Conservational International.

Lethal methods

• Bats are protected in Michigan. Lethal control of bats is not permitted except for human safety issues.
• If bats pose a public safety concern in critical airport facilities, contact a nuisance animal control company for assistance with lawful exclusion. Type “bat” into the search box on the directory page to find a company licensed for managing bats. You can also apply for a permit for lethal removal.