Straight answers from a licensed New York exterminator and Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) — serving all five boroughs, in English and Spanish.
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Quick answer: Bats occasionally roost in attics, soffits, and wall voids. Signs include droppings (guano) piled below an entry point, dark grease/staining around gaps, squeaking or scratching at dusk, and bats flying out at dawn/dusk. Bats are beneficial and legally protected in New York — but guano can carry histoplasmosis, and any bat in a living space is a potential rabies exposure. Never DIY a bat problem: exclusion is regulated and timing-sensitive (maternity-season restrictions).
Signs you have bats
- Guano (droppings) accumulating below a gap, in the attic, or on walls — it crumbles to powder, unlike rodent droppings.
- Dark staining/grease marks around entry points where bats squeeze in.
- Squeaking, scratching, or fluttering sounds at dusk and dawn.
- Sightings of bats exiting the building around sunset or returning at first light.
Why bats need special handling
Bats are protected in New York and play a valuable role eating insects, so they can’t simply be exterminated. But there are real health considerations: guano can harbor the fungus that causes histoplasmosis, and because a bat bite or scratch can be hard to detect, any bat found in a bedroom or near a sleeping or vulnerable person is treated as a possible rabies exposure — contact your doctor and local health department in that situation.
What to do — and the timing that matters
Bat exclusion is done with one-way devices that let bats leave but not return, followed by sealing entry points. Critically, this work is restricted during the summer maternity season, when flightless pups are present — excluding then would trap and kill them, which is both inhumane and not permitted. That’s why bats require a knowledgeable, properly timed approach rather than DIY. If a single bat is flying in a room, don’t swat it; confine it to one room, open a window, and let it leave, then have the entry point found and sealed.
Think bats are roosting in your home? Don’t handle it yourself. New York Exterminating can assess the situation and coordinate proper, timing-aware exclusion, led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). Call (347) 210-4646 or request a free assessment.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For pests in your home or building, NYE provides IPM-based, low-exposure control matched to the exact pest and verified with a follow-up. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
Bats — FAQ
How do I know if I have bats?
Look for crumbly guano below a gap, grease staining at entry points, dusk/dawn squeaking, and bats flying out at sunset. Guano differs from rodent droppings in that it crumbles to powder.
Are bats dangerous?
They’re beneficial but their guano can carry histoplasmosis, and any bat contact in a living space is treated as a possible rabies exposure — seek medical advice in that case.
Can I remove bats myself?
No — bats are protected, and exclusion is restricted during summer maternity season. Improper removal is both illegal and inhumane; use a knowledgeable professional.
What do I do if a bat is flying in my house?
Don’t swat it. Confine it to one room, open a window so it can leave, and avoid direct contact. Then have the entry point identified and sealed — and consult a doctor if any contact occurred.
