Bats help the ecosystem by eating insects, including crop, forest and human health pests. Bats can eat up to half their weight every night.
All 15 species of bats in B.C. are protected from being killed or harassed under the Wildlife Act, and many are listed species-at-risk or endangered. Bats need our protection, including conservation of colonies that live near humans.
Bats may cause some concerns, but many people live safely with bat colonies that are separate from their living space. Bats can carry fleas, mites, ticks and bat bugs (which are similar in behaviour and appearance to bed bugs). These pests are specific to bats and don’t usually affect humans.
Bats may also carry rabies, but this is rare. Less than 1% of wild bats have the rabies virus. However, because rabies is fatal if not treated, you must never touch a bat with bare hands. Contact public health or a physician if you have been bitten or scratched by a bat. If a pet has been in contact with a bat, contact a veterinarian for an assessment.
Removing Bats from Buildings
If bats are roosting in an area that isn't interfering with human activity, consider leaving them undisturbed. They won't destroy wood, wires or insulation.
If a bat has entered the living area of your building, try getting them to leave on their own by:
A sleeping bat inside a house can be safely picked up:
Bats are protected under the Wildlife Act. Certain actions are illegal and ineffective for bat removal.
Prevent bats from entering by keeping up with building maintenance. Do regular inspections to find and block any entrance points under eaves or around pipes, vents, doors and windows. Bats can enter through a dime-sized hole or crack. Make sure there are no bats inside before blocking entrance points.
If bats are already present inside the building and living with the bats in not an option, you will have to evict them before blocking any holes.
Step 1: Find out where bats are getting in
Step 2: Evict the bats and prevent them from re-entering
In spring or fall, install a one-way escape hatch and leave it in place for a week or two to ensure bats have left before fully blocking entrance points.
You can use commercial ‘bat cones’ or you can make a one-way escape hatch.
To make a one-way escape hatch:
For more guidance visit Excluding Bats from a Building.
Living with Bats in Buildings
Sometimes it's not possible or not necessary to evict bats. For example, they frequently roost under wood shakes on roofs or under cedar siding. In these cases, the best option is to learn to live with the bats, especially since they don’t damage the building. Hosting a bat roost is also beneficial to the environment.
Follow these tips to live with bats in buildings:
Be careful not to disturb a bat hibernation site. This can cause them to burn off valuable stored energy and die of starvation.
Dealing with Bat Feces
Bat feces (guano) may be stinky but it also makes an excellent fertilizer for the garden.
In extremely humid environments, guano dust can carry a disease organism that causes a lung infection called histoplasmosis. This is rare in the Pacific Northwest, although it is common in other regions. Always wear a respirator mask when investigating or cleaning a bat roost in a confined space.