Bats have a bad reputation, but they’re usually not a problem for humans. They fly around at night and help control bug populations. When they decide to roost in your home, however, they become a major nuisance. If you have bats in your house, they can be destructive and carry diseases that may be dangerous.

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Learn more about the bats in our area and how to know if they’re in your attic.

Eastern Pipistrelle Bat Closeup

Appearance

The U.S. is home to 47 different species of bats. Some are more rarely seen, but these eight species are fairly common in Texas:

  • Mexican Free-Tailed: These state mammals of Texas have brown-gray fur and long tails.
  • Eastern Red: These bats measure up to4″-5″ large with reddish fur.
  • Seminole: Seminoles are 4″-5″ large with deep mahogany-colored fur. 
  • Hoary: The largest local species, Hoary bats can grow up to 6″ with frosted yellowish fur. 
  • Northern Yellow: These bats grow up to 4″ and have yellow fur.
  • Big Brown: True to their name, Big Brown bats have brown fur and grow to 4″-5″.
  • Evening: Evening bats are smaller at 3″-4″ and have dark, reddish or brown fur.
  • Eastern Pipistrelle: These bats are the smallest at only 3″-3.5″ and have reddish-light brown fur.

Bats use high-frequency sounds to navigate and also make bird-like fluttering and chirping noises. 

Diet

Each bat’s diet varies according to their species, some are omnivores that eat insects, fruit and nectar. In fact, a single bat can eat hundreds of thousands of insects every night. Their diet plays a major role in controlling populations of harmful bugs like mosquitos and flies.

Behavior

Bats are nocturnal animals, which means they are active at night and roost during the day. They tend to roost in elevated places like tree branches, tree hollows, rock ledges, barns, attics, chimneys and silos. Bats will fly into homes to find food and a cozy place to roost.

There is a misconception that bats are blind, but they usually have excellent eyesight. They also use echolocation to help navigate effectively.

Bats are common carriers for several diseases that can be dangerous to you and your family, including rabies and histoplasmosis. While transmission of these diseases isn’t especially common, they are still a concern if bats are in your home.

Sounds

Listen to the sounds of bats.

 

Signs

Because bats are nocturnal and can fly, many homeowners do not notice that there are bats in their house for a long time. The following signs indicate a possible bat infestation:

  • Flapping sounds at night: They’re usually quiet, but if you hear flapping noises at night, you likely have bats.
  • Stains on exterior walls: Inspect the outside of your home to look for bat excrement or grease stains from their fur.
  • Guano: Bat excrement known as guano can build up in attics and make ceilings sag. Over time, you’ll be able to smell it.
  • Entry points: As you inspect the outside of your house, look for possible entry points. Bats often leave guano around these areas.

Contact Urban Jungle for Bat Removal Services

If you have bats in your house, contact us today. Urban Jungle employs wildlife experts for animal trapping and removal in Texas. We’ll get existing animals out and then perform exclusion and repair services to keep the bats out of your attic for good.