Now that fall is here, many animals are looking for warm places to hibernate for the winter. Bats hibernate from October or November through March or April. They often seek shelter in the attics of homes where the temperature is suitable for hibernation. Bats often hibernate in groups called colonies. If you see one bat in your home or leaving, it is likely that there are many others.
Signs That Bats Are Hibernating in Your Attic
Bats hibernating inside attics may move around the house during the winter. They sometimes move down between the walls and make scratching or squeaking sounds. They may make their way into basements or living areas.
Hibernating bats may move around inside a house in response to changes in temperature. If it gets warmer outside, they may mistakenly believe that spring is near. Bats may move if there is a blast of cold air that causes the temperature in the attic to drop. If that happens, they will look for another part of the house that is warmer. They may also wake up from time to time to go outside and look for water to drink.
Bats often hibernate under insulation to get near warmth from a wall or ceiling. They rarely hang from the ceiling in an attic during the winter because it is too cold.
Bats can leave droppings called guano all over an attic. The smell can be overpowering, and it can also spread diseases. Some bats carry rabies, which can be spread if a bat bites someone.
Have Bats Living in Your Attic Excluded
If bats are living in your attic, you should not try to trap or handle them because you could get bitten. Bats need to be excluded. This is done by installing a one-way device that allows them to fly out of the attic but prevents them from returning. The entry points that the bats used to get into the attic need to be sealed off to prevent them from getting back in.
Anderson Wildlife Control has experience excluding bats from attics in homes in Connecticut. If bats are living in your attic, they should be excluded to get them out and keep them from coming back. We can do this and seal off the entry points they used to get in. Contact Anderson Wildlife Control to get an estimate for bat exclusion.