Who to Call for Bat Removal? What to Know Before Hiring

Who to call depends on where the bat is and whether anyone was exposed. For a bat inside your home, contact animal control or a qualified wildlife professional. For bats living in an attic or roof, hire a wildlife-control company that specializes in bat exclusion. If someone may have been exposed to rabies, contact your local health department or healthcare professional promptly.

If a pet has been exposed, involve your veterinarian. Injured or orphaned bats may need a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Who Do You Call to Remove a Bat From Your House?

If one bat has entered your home, you do not need a professional immediately.

A single bat can accidentally enter through an open door, window, chimney, or another opening. Bat Conservation International notes that a single bat inside a home does not necessarily mean a colony is living in the structure.

If the bat is flying freely and you are confident that nobody has had contact with it, you can give it an opportunity to leave by:

• Closing doors to other rooms.
• Opening a window or exterior door.
• Turning off ceiling fans.
• Keeping people and pets away.
• Giving the bat time and space to find the exit.

If the bat will not leave or you are uncomfortable dealing with it, contact animal control or a qualified wildlife professional instead of trying to handle it yourself.

What if the bat was in a bedroom?

If someone was sleeping in the room, a child was unattended, or there is any possibility that a person had direct contact with the bat without realizing it, contact your local health department or a healthcare professional promptly.

The CDC specifically identifies situations such as a bat being found in a room with a sleeping person or someone who may not reliably recognize or report contact as situations that warrant evaluation for possible rabies exposure.

That does not mean every person who sees a bat indoors has been exposed to rabies. It means you should evaluate possible exposure rather than dismiss it.

When Should You Call Animal Control?

Animal control may be an appropriate first contact when you have a bat inside an occupied building and need help safely dealing with the animal.

Call animal control when:

• You need help safely containing a bat.
• A bat may need to be submitted for rabies testing.
• A person or pet may have had contact with the bat.
• You are unsure which local wildlife authority handles bats.

However, animal control is not necessarily the professional you need for a long-term bat problem in an attic.

If bats repeatedly enter or leave your structure, you generally need someone who can inspect the building and perform appropriate exclusion work.

Who Do You Call to Remove Bats From an Attic?

If bats are living in your attic, roof, wall void, chimney, or another structural space, call a professional bat control operator or bat-removal specialist with specific experience in bat exclusion.

Look for someone who understands:

• Bat behaviour and roosting patterns
• Structural entry points
• Exclusion techniques
• Seasonal restrictions
• Local wildlife regulations
• Safe sealing practices
• Follow-up inspection and repairs

The professional determines how the bats enter and leave the building and develops a plan that lets them leave without becoming trapped inside.

Bat Conservation International describes exclusion as the permanent solution for unwanted bats occupying a structure and recommends hiring professionals with verifiable bat-removal experience and knowledge of seasonal bat behavior.

Signs of bats living in Your Attic

Consider calling a bat-exclusion professional if you notice:

• Bats repeatedly entering or leaving the property.
• Bats emerging from the roof or attic around dusk.
• Bat droppings around an exterior opening.
• Scratching or fluttering sounds in an attic or wall.
• Repeated bats appearing inside the home.
• An opening around a soffit, roofline, vent, chimney, or other structure where bats may be entering.

Repeated activity can indicate an established roost, although an inspection is needed to determine exactly what is happening.

Should You Call Pest Control or Wildlife Control for Bats?

Either can be appropriate, but only if the company actually provides specialized bat or wildlife services.

Before scheduling service, ask, “Do you specifically perform bat exclusion?”

If the answer is no, look for a wildlife-control company or bat specialist instead.

The distinction matters because bat removal generally involves exclusion rather than conventional insect-control treatment.

A qualified professional should inspect the structure, identify active openings, determine how bats are using the building, and explain how the animals will be allowed to leave before permanently sealing access points.

Be cautious about anyone who immediately proposes poisoning, indiscriminate chemical treatment, or sealing every visible opening without first determining whether bats are still inside.

Bat Conservation International specifically warns against chemical pesticides used to kill or repel bats and against exclusion methods that can trap bats inside a structure.

When Should You Call the Health Department About a Bat?

The health department is not normally the agency you call simply because bats are living in your attic.

Its role becomes important when there may have been human exposure to rabies.

Contact your local health department or seek medical advice when:

• Someone was bitten or scratched by a bat.
• Someone had direct contact with a bat.
• A bat was found in a room with a sleeping person.
• A child or another person touched a bat but can't reliably report what happened.
• You are unsure whether contact occurred.

The CDC recommends contacting the health department when someone has potentially been exposed to an animal that could have rabies.

If a bite or scratch occurred, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical care promptly.

Are There Special Rules for Bat Removal in Texas?

Texas has specific wildlife rules that homeowners and wildlife professionals should consider before attempting bat exclusion.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department currently states that bats may not generally be hunted, killed, possessed, purchased, or sold, while also providing a specific exception for bats inside or on buildings occupied by people. TPWD also discourages excluding bats from buildings from May 1 through August 15, when young bats may be unable to fly and could become trapped.

That makes timing an important part of a Texas bat-removal decision.

A professional should determine:

• What species may be involved.
• Whether bats are actively using the structure.
• Whether young bats could be present.
• Whether exclusion is appropriate at that time.
• What state or local requirements apply.

For current Texas requirements, check the latest guidance from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department rather than relying on an old removal schedule found online.

What Should You Ask Before Hiring a Bat Removal Company?

Do you specifically perform bat exclusion?

This is more useful than simply asking whether the company provides "pest control."

How will you determine where bats are entering?

A professional should be able to explain how they will inspect the structure and identify active openings.

How will you prevent bats from being trapped inside?

This is one of the most important questions you can ask.

How do you handle the timing of bat exclusion?

In Texas, this question is particularly relevant because TPWD currently discourages exclusion during May 1 through August 15.

Are you licensed or otherwise authorized for the work you perform?

Ask the company to explain what state or local requirements apply to its particular services.

What does the estimate include?

Find out whether the price covers:

• Inspection
• Exclusion devices
• Permanent sealing
• Repairs
• Cleanup
• Follow-up visits
• Warranty or workmanship coverage

Can you provide the plan in writing?

A written scope of work makes it easier to understand exactly what you're paying for and what the company intends to do.

What Are Red Flags When Choosing a Bat Removal Company?

Be cautious if a company:

• Wants to seal every visible opening immediately.
• Cannot explain how bats will get out before sealing.
• Treats bats exactly like insect pests.
• Proposes poisoning bats.
• Cannot explain its experience with bat exclusion.
• Ignores seasonal considerations.
• Refuses to provide a written scope of work.
• Uses scare tactics to pressure you into immediate work.
• Cannot explain what happens if bats remain after the initial service.

Bat Conservation International specifically recommends looking for professionals with verifiable bat-removal experience, appropriate licensing, insurance, references, and a written contract.

Can You Remove a Bat Yourself?

For a single bat that accidentally enters a room, you can get rid of it without hiring anyone, provided there has been no possible human or pet contact and local guidance allows it.

The safer approach is to isolate the room, provide an exterior exit, keep people and pets away, and avoid handling the bat.

If the bat won't leave, you are uncomfortable dealing with it, or there is any uncertainty about exposure, contact the appropriate animal-control, wildlife, or public-health authority.

A bat colony in an attic is different.

DIY exclusion requires identifying all relevant entry points, understanding the timing of the work, preventing entrapment, and properly sealing the structure. A mistake can leave bats trapped inside or allow them to continue using the building.

For an established colony, professional exclusion is generally the better option.

If you're in the Houston area and aren't sure whether you're dealing with a single bat or an established roost, SkeeterCide can help assess the situation and determine whether professional bat exclusion is appropriate.

Contact SkeeterCide for a bat inspection and removal estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Animal Control Remove Bats From an Attic?

It depends on the local animal control agency and the type of bat problem. Animal control may help with a bat inside a home, but an established attic colony usually requires a wildlife professional who specializes in bat exclusion. Before calling, ask whether the agency handles attic bat removal or can refer you to a qualified specialist.

How Much Does Professional Bat Removal Cost?

Professional bat removal costs about $300 to $1,500, depending on the size of the infestation, where bats are entering, how difficult the area is to access, and how much sealing or repair is needed. Larger attic colonies or homes with multiple entry points can cost more. Ask for a written estimate that clearly explains what the inspection, exclusion, sealing, cleanup, and follow-up services include.

How Long Does Bat Exclusion Take?

Bat exclusion can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the building, the number of entry points, and the timing of the work. The actual removal may be relatively quick, but inspecting the structure, installing exclusion devices, sealing openings, and checking the work can take longer.

Can Bats Come Back After Professional Removal?

Yes, bats can return if professionals miss entry points or new openings develop. Proper bat exclusion focuses on identifying how bats are getting inside and sealing those access points after the bats have safely left. A professional should also explain whether follow-up inspections or repairs are included.

Who Do You Call for a Dead Bat?

If you find a dead bat, contact your local animal control or wildlife authority for guidance on safe handling and disposal. If the bat may have had contact with a person or pet, especially if the contact was uncertain, contact the appropriate health authority or veterinarian for advice before handling or disposing of it.

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