I found bats (pdf) in my attic. How can I get rid of them?
A. Bats roosting in homes should not be excluded until late August. The young little brown bat are born in June and are flightless for about two months. One way doors can be built over entry points to let bats out and prevent them from getting back in. You may then seal the holes during the day. Remember that bats can enter holes as small as 1/4″ wide by 1 1/2″ long. Bat droppings contain the spores of the fungus that causes histoplasmosis, which can be inhaled. To remove, ventilate the area and wear leather gloves, disposable Tyvek™ coveralls, goggles, and a proper respirator. Do not vacuum or sweep. Instead, thoroughly wet the materials with a household or commercial disinfectant. Wipe up with a damp sponge. Do not use a bleach solution, because bat guano contains ammonia. Do NOT mix bleach with ammonia because the fumes are toxic. Build a bat house to keep them around to feed on mosquitoes.
