Bat Pest Control Calls Rise in New York as Home Encounters Increase
Homeowners in parts of New York are reporting more encounters with bats this summer, with one pest control company serving the Capital Region and Hudson Valley estimating that bat-related calls have increased by about 15% compared with last year.
The increase comes during a time of year when bats are especially active around homes, raising questions for homeowners about why bats enter houses, where they hide, and what to do when one gets inside.
Why Are More Bats Being Found in New York Homes?
Summer is an active period for bats in New York.
According to reporting by the Times Union, bats may use warm, dark spaces such as attics and openings around rooflines as places to shelter and raise young.
Homes can provide the type of protected cavity that some bats naturally seek.
However, an increase in homeowner reports does not necessarily mean that New York’s bat population is suddenly increasing. Wildlife experts have noted that greater public awareness may also be contributing to more reported encounters.
Where Can Bats Enter a Home?
Bats can take advantage of relatively small openings around a structure.
Potential entry areas can include:
- Gaps and crevices around rooflines
- Attic vents
- Openings around siding or trim
- Chimneys
- Gaps where building materials meet
Once inside a structure, bats may shelter in attics, wall spaces, or other protected areas that are difficult for homeowners to inspect.
Finding the actual entry point is important because simply dealing with a visible bat may not address how it entered the building.
Why Homeowners Should Take Indoor Bat Encounters Seriously
Bats play an important ecological role, including consuming insects, and seeing a bat outdoors does not automatically indicate a pest problem.
A bat inside a living space is different.
Homeowners should avoid directly handling bats, particularly when there is a possibility that a person or pet had physical contact with the animal.
If a bat is discovered inside a bedroom, living area, or another occupied part of a home and possible contact cannot be ruled out, homeowners should seek guidance from their local health department or appropriate animal-control authority.
For current guidance on bat encounters and possible rabies exposure, see the CDC’s recommendations for preventing rabies from bats.
Does Seeing One Bat Mean You Have an Infestation?
Not necessarily.
A single bat may accidentally enter through an open door, window, or another opening.
Repeated sightings, noises coming from an attic or wall space, visible bats entering and leaving the same location, or accumulating droppings may indicate that bats are using part of the structure as a shelter.
In those situations, identifying how the animals are entering the building becomes especially important.
How Can Homeowners Reduce Bat Entry?
Preventing access is generally more useful than repeatedly dealing with bats after they enter.
Homeowners can inspect the exterior of the house for potential openings around:
- Roof edges
- Vents
- Chimneys
- Siding
- Fascia and soffits
- Utility penetrations
- Other gaps leading into attic or wall spaces
Any exclusion work should take into account whether bats are already occupying the structure and whether young bats may be present.
Improperly sealing an active entry point can trap animals inside the building rather than solve the problem.
What This Means for Homeowners
The reported increase in bat-related pest control calls in parts of New York is a useful reminder that pest and wildlife problems can change with season, climate, animal behavior, and location.
Homeowners who repeatedly find bats around or inside their homes should focus on identifying the entry point and determining whether the building is being used as a shelter.
When there is uncertainty about safely removing bats or excluding them from a structure, professional assistance may be appropriate.
Explore Pest Control by Location
Pest activity can vary significantly depending on climate, season, housing conditions, and local environment.
Sources
Times Union — Bats are looking for places to nest in your home. Here’s why.