bat hanging from a deck

Have you found a bat on your porch? Or perhaps you’ve noticed droppings? Does this mean bats have found their way into your attic? Not necessarily.

Porches and overhangs make excellent roosting spots. After feeding, bats will often land to rest and digest their food before continuing to feed. They tend to feed on mosquitoes and insects that are attracted to the lights commonly placed near porches. While good for keeping the insects away, this can be a nuisance, and preventing bats from roosting on porches can be quite the challenge. We have a number of tips and tricks for homeowners, to try to prevent bats from picking your porch to roost in. 

Tips and tricks to stop bats from roosting under your porch.

Firstly, if you can wait for the season to change, the bat will probably leave on its own, when the weather turns cooler. If not, some people have had success hanging helium-filled Mylar balloons close to the roosting spot, the balloons need to sway to be effective, or by suspending aluminum foil.

a porch entrance to a home where bats like to hang

If you don’t like the idea of what might be considered unsightly by some, try hanging wind chimes or mechanical owls, basically more aesthetically pleasing versions of aluminium foil. These are all fairly easy solutions but are not as effective as our next suggestion.

stucco porch with a deck

A more long term solution would be to modify the surface on which the bats are roosting. Bats like a material that they can hang onto easily, so securing something like Plexiglass (Perspex) to roosting sites won’t allow the bats to hang as they could on brick or wood.

plexiglass to stop bats roosting above your porch

Lastly, remember that bats are actually good to have around, as long as they are not hanging around your home! So why not try adding a bat house to your property, which will provide them with an alternate roosting site.

bat box on a tree a good distance from a home

When to call the experts.

It is important to remember that if you find a bat on the ground during the daytime, it is likely to be injured or ill. Bats are wild animals so if they are in pain or in a panicked state they may try to defend themselves. Always take precautions, you should wear gloves and handle bats as little as possible, if in doubt call the experts.

We are happy to advise you on how to determine if you do have bats in your home, just give us a call. If you do have a bat problem, we can certainly help to get them out and keep them out.

Sincerely,

Michael Koski

Get Bats Out Owner and President Michael Koski

Your Local Bat Removal Expert

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  • Amy I Chapman

    December 14, 2022 | Reply

    Went out on my somewhat in closed porch. There is a bat under my cushion. Where I live they release them for control. Shouldn't my bat be where it is warm??

    • Tori Bruce

      December 15, 2022 | Reply

      Hello, bats usually enter a state of torpor or migrate if you live in an area that gets cold during the winter. Unfortunately, there are various circumstances where they wake up too soon or don't migrate when they should have.

  • Moy

    November 30, 2022 | Reply

    My son just noticed hanging by our front porch brick wall. It's been there for about an hour now since we noticed it. It could have been there for longer. What should I do to get rid of it before there is more than one?

    • Tori Bruce

      November 30, 2022 | Reply

      Sometimes a bat might land on your porch if it couldn't get back to their normal roost after feeding. Hopefully, it will fly away tonight and not return. If it does, you can follow the tips in that blog. Also, feel free to call our customer service if you have questions. 877-264-2287

  • Caren H

    September 27, 2022 | Reply

    I have anywhere from two to thirty bats nesting on my porch brick wall. The droppings are ridiculous. I thought leaving the light on would scare them. They don’t land when it’s on.

  • CV

    August 17, 2022 | Reply

    We have a bat that is roosting at the top of our porch and we have been using eucalyptus oil. It seem to work for about a week or so and now I think he’s used to it. I have tried the ultrasonic stick in the ground option, with no success he still comes and Roosts If I put a bat box up I wonder how far up a tree and in what direction I have to put it to give it a home. I don’t know if that will solve the roosting or not

    • Tori Bruce

      August 18, 2022 | Reply

      Hello, A bat box will not lure a bat away from its chosen roosting spot. Addressing the space he is in is the correct approach. Does the space allow for netting or screening to restrict access? Are there lights on at night that attract bugs for it to feed on?

  • Ron Rowe

    August 13, 2022 | Reply

    What is the recommended mixture for peppermint oil, dish soap and water for the bat removal?

    • Tori Bruce

      August 16, 2022 | Reply

      Hi, good question. It's not an exact science. (And it doesn't have a guaranteed success rate) The concept is a little soap in the water gives the oil something to 'stick' to, since oil and water don't mix. If the oil is concentrated, I would guess a dollop of soap and a few drops of oil in a cup of water.

  • Kathy

    August 9, 2022 | Reply

    We get scattered bat droppings on our front porch several times a week. Is cleaning it off with the garden hose to get rid of it enough to protect us from its toxicity?

    • Tori Bruce

      August 9, 2022 | Reply

      Yes, Kathy, if you keep them from accumulating, you don't have to worry about toxicity. Guano has to accumulate to a couple inches before you have to worry about histoplasmosis.

  • LesleyWelham

    July 12, 2022 | Reply

    We have noticed a scattering of bat droppings by our patio doors, also marks down the glass. We have seen about three bats wizzing around our garden at night but no sign of them roosting. Any ideas ?

    • Tori Bruce

      July 21, 2022 | Reply

      Hello, If the droppings (guano) are sparse, they probably aren't living there but instead occasionally resting there. You might try cleaning up what is there and see how much new guano accumulates. If you need more help, please call our customer service number at 877-264-2287.

  • Steve

    May 25, 2022 | Reply

    I have bat droppings on my porch. There are around 20-30 individual droppings. There is no evidence of roosting. I assume they are flying through and possibly resting. Are the droppings dangerous?

    • Tori Bruce

      May 25, 2022 | Reply

      Hello, the bat droppings are not dangerous if scattered. They become potentially dangerous when it accumulates in a pile. For more information, please refer to the following article: https://www.getbatsout.com/bat-guano-dangerous/

  • Louvena McCann

    August 24, 2021 | Reply

    I've been noticing droppings on my porch. And I seen a dropping on the wall. Brick surface. I looked tonight and seen a bat peeking from where the wall meets the ceiling of the porch ceiling /siding . I read to try turning lights on but I don't want it drawing bugs for the bats to eat.. what time is good to try to spray something? If I try the peppermint can I spray up in the opening by the ceiling? I don't know how far they can get in above the porch .

    • Tori Bruce

      August 24, 2021 | Reply

      We haven't found peppermint spray to be a very good exclusion option is they are roosting. It is better as a deterrent to discourage them from hanging on the wall between feedings. If you're going to try it, the timing doesn't really matter, just be alert that they may all come out while you are spraying.

  • Melanie

    April 12, 2021 | Reply

    Thanks so much for this info. We just found one bat roosting under our deck . We just had a bad tornado hit our neighborhood lots of tree and roof damage. Think he must be seeking new safe place. I will try your ideas let you know what works. Thx

    • Tori Bruce

      April 13, 2021 | Reply

      So sorry to hear about the tornado! I am sure you are correct about the bats being displaced after it. I hope the suggestions work!

  • Adrianne Patullo

    December 5, 2020 | Reply

    We installed plexiglass panels (two panels, each about 2 feet wide and 2 feet high) right under the roofline in the corner of our porch where the bats were roosting on the bricks. That solved the problem right away. Thank you for the idea!

    • Tori Bruce

      December 7, 2020 | Reply

      Thank you for your feedback! Glad we could help figure out a solution.

  • Nancy

    September 30, 2020 | Reply

    We had a bat stay for a few days and finally called the city's animal control officer who removed it. He said it was most likely sick since it did not move. I assume it had to be euthanized so it wouldn't get other bats sick. Now we have another that keeps visiting. I was thinking about getting some of those magnetic door screens to cover the majority of the porch so they couldn't fly in easily. Maybe I'll try some mylar balloons first. I guess when they have helium, I could tape them to the floor, then when they go flat, I could attach them to the top so they end up in the middle of the porch entrance. Would hanging sachets of peppermint oil deter them from visiting my porch? Or something else? I'm tired of cleaning up the feces and afraid that it will make us sick. Thanks, Nancy

    • Tori Bruce

      October 1, 2020 | Reply

      Hi, well your porch must be an inviting place! I would try to think of things to make it less comfortable (but in a safe way) for the bats. You could try using a garden hose a few times because they want a dry spot. Peppermint oil mixed with some diluted soap where they like to huddle will likely make them want to move on too, you could try applying it in the evening when they like to leave for dinner. Usually it takes more than one application. I hope you have success!

  • Ann Daeschner

    September 8, 2020 | Reply

    I have a bat that has apparently been roosting near the ceiling of my front porch (12-15 feet off the ground) all summer as evidenced by the droppings I have been finding. We saw the bat for the first time this weekend. It has not moved in at least 24 hours. It is roosting from the top of the brick wall. Any suggestions on how to chase it away without injuring it, and assuring it doesn't return?

    • Tori Bruce

      September 9, 2020 | Reply

      Hi, thank you for keeping the bats wellbeing in mind as you plan to move it from it's favorite spot. It likes the spot because it feels safe and dry. A garden hose shouldn't hurt it, and if it happens a few times the bat may decide to move somewhere else. Alternately, peppermint oil mixed with a surfactant like diluted soap will irritate the bat enough to make him move. You may need to reapply every week or two until it leaves.

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