What Attracts Bats to Your Property? Common Causes and How to Mitigate Them.
Factors that make a property desirable for bats include: food, water, shelter, and ideal temperatures. Understanding these attractants—and addressing them—helps prevent unwanted bat visits and potential infestations. In this article, we’ll explore the environmental and structural reasons bats choose your home and offer practical steps to reduce these attractors and keep your property bat-free.
Environmental Attractants
1. Abundant Insect Food Sources
Bats feed primarily on night-flying insects—moths, mosquitoes, beetles, and more—so any area rich in insects becomes a buffet for bats. Planting native, night-blooming flowers (white or light-colored) attracts more moths and other pollinators, which in turn draws bats to hunt nearby.
2. Proximity to Water
Water bodies—ponds, streams, lakes, or even birdbaths—support large insect populations and provide drinking sites for bats. Properties within a quarter-mile of water see higher bat activity due to the reliable food and hydration source.
3. Favorable Roosting Habitat
Natural features like dead trees, barns, and crevices mimic caves and hollow trees, offering ideal roosts. These sites provide protection from predators and stable microclimates for resting and raising pups.
Structural Attractants
1. Entry Points and Crevices
Small openings—gaps under shingles, unsealed vents, chimney crowns, soffits, fascia boards, and joints around window frames—offer easy access. Bats can squeeze through any hole larger than 3/8" (about the width of a pencil), making even tiny cracks inviting entry points.
2. Unused or Secluded Spaces
Quiet, undisturbed areas like attics, wall voids, and behind shutters provide security for roosting bats. These spaces remain dark and warm, closely replicating natural caves.
3. Warm, Stable Temperatures
Buildings maintain more constant temperatures than outdoor roosts, especially in attics. Bats seek stable warmth, particularly in cooler seasons or when rearing young.
How to Mitigate Bat Attractants
1. Reduce Insect Populations
Avoid Pesticides: Don’t spray insecticides indiscriminately—this can harm non-target species and eliminate bats’ natural food source.
Plant Strategically: Use native plants that support fewer pest insects. Introduce late-blooming, night-scented flowers sparingly to limit insect concentrations near your home.
2. Manage Water Sources
Remove Standing Water: Eliminate unnecessary water features or keep them away from the house.
Maintain Birdbaths: Clean regularly and ensure shallow edges, reducing mosquito breeding.
3. Seal Structural Gaps
Inspect and Repair: Conduct a room-by-room survey for openings larger than 3/8". Seal gaps using caulk, weather-proof foam strips, or hardware cloth (no larger than 1/4" mesh).
Cover Chimneys and Vents: Install stainless-steel chimney caps with 3/8" mesh and screen vents to block bat entry while preserving airflow.
4. Limit Roosting Habitat
Trim Trees and Shrubs: Keep branches at least 6–8 feet from the roofline to reduce access to eaves and roofs.
Remove or Secure Dead Trees: If safe, remove hollow trees or cap cavities to prevent bats from roosting.
5. Adjust Lighting
Use Yellow “Bug” Lights: Replace white exterior bulbs with yellow or sodium vapor lights to attract fewer insects.
Install Motion Sensors: Limit the duration of illumination, reducing insect gatherings at night.
Conclusion
By addressing the core attractants—food, water, shelter, and optimal temperatures—you can significantly reduce bat activity around your home. A combination of environmental management (like reducing insect populations and managing water), structural repairs (sealing gaps and screening vents), and habitat modification (trimming vegetation, adjusting lighting) offers a comprehensive approach. For persistent issues or suspected roosting, consult a professional bat exclusion service to ensure humane removal and long-term protection of your property.