Bats

Ithaca Bat Control Services

Managing Multiple Species of Bats Tompkins County

If there are bats in your home, prompt action is important. Bats can endanger the health and safety of your family, so professional intervention is crucial. Wildlife Resolutions can help!

New York is home to nine species of bats:

Big brown bat
Little brown bat
Northern long-eared bat
Eastern small-footed bat
Eastern pipistrelle
Indiana bat
Red bat
Hoary bat
Silver-haired bat

In central New York, only four of these species are found living in manmade structures (big brown bat, little brown bat, northern long eared, and occasionally the eastern small footed). The big brown bat is the most common bat found living is man-made structures. The little brown bat, northern long-eared, and eastern small-footed have been found inhabiting buildings, but due to their declining population, we do not find many.

Because bats inhabit buildings, they are often classified as a pest. The most common complaints we receive are:

Bat in the bedroom
Bat flying around the living space
Bats living in the attic, soffit, or chimney
Observed bats exiting the building
Strange odor or noise

Commonly Asked Questions

How can bats endanger the health and safety of my family?

Bats can carry diseases like rabies and histoplasmosis, which can be transmitted to humans through bites or contact with their droppings.

What should I do if I find a bat in my bedroom?

It is important to stay calm and avoid direct contact with the bat. Close the door to the room and contact a professional bat control service for safe removal.

Are all species of bats found in New York harmful?

No, not all species of bats found in New York are harmful. Some species play a crucial role in controlling insect populations and are considered beneficial to the environment.

How can I prevent bats from entering my home?

Sealing all entry points, such as cracks and gaps in the attic or walls, and installing bat houses in the vicinity can help deter bats from entering your home.

What should I do if I hear strange noises or notice a foul odor in my attic?

Strange noises and foul odors in the attic could indicate a bat infestation. Contact a professional bat control service to inspect and address the issue promptly.

Do You Have a Colony of Bats in Your Home?

It’s not uncommon to have a bat inside your home during the mid to late summer. Having a bat inside your home does not always mean you have a colony of bats living in your home.

Questions to ask yourself include:

Is this the first time you’ve had a bat inside your home? If not, how often do you have bats inside?
Have you observed any bats flying out of your home?
What time of year are you seeing the bats inside your home?

If you are seeing bats in late July through September…

Juvenile bats often find their way into homes during this time period. Frequency of occurrence often tells us if you have a colony of bats or not.

If you are seeing bats in February through May…

Bats will hibernate in your home during the colder months. Often, we find bats inside houses during this time period if they are hibernating inside your home. Before going into a state of torpor, bats will build up a fat reserve. If the reserve burns out before spring, they will wake up and look for food. This is the most likely scenario when bats enter a living space during this time period. An inspection is required to determine whether a colony of bats are in your home or not.

Did You Wake Up to a Bat Flying Around Home? Do You Know What to Do Next?

Often times, we are called to a residence because a bat is flying around the living space. When this happens, it is important to stay calm.

Before opening a window/door, ask yourself a few questions:

Was anyone asleep?
Was anyone inebriated or impaired?
Is there an infant or child in the house?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, DO NOT LET THE BAT OUT OF THE HOUSE. Instead, follow these instructions:

If possible, contain the bat into a room and place a towel under the door.
If you are capable, capture the bat and submit it for rabies testing.
If you are not capable, call a professional to have the bat removed.

Are You Hearing Chirping/Squeaking Noises in Your Wall?

We are often called to residences due to an unusual sound coming from a wall or ceiling. These sounds could be many things. A thorough assessment of your home would be required to identify the culprit.

How to Capture a Bat

Keep an eye on the bat and watch where it lands. Once the bat has landed, use a bite-proof container (Tupperware works well) to cover the bat. Now that the bat is covered, slide a ridged piece of cardboard or something similar under the container, and tape the container shut to keep the bat contained. Then, contact your local health department for guidance on submitting the bat for rabies testing.

For an inspection of unusual conditions in your home or our Ithaca bat control services, contact Wildlife Resolutions at (607) 900-4491.

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Frequently Asked Questions

I found an injured or juvenile animal. Will Wildlife Resolutions rescue them?

No. Wildlife Resolutions is not a NYS licensed rehab facility. There are several licensed wildlife rehabbers in the area. The NYS DEC website has a list of rehabbers by county. Some good local options would be… Swanson Wildlife Clinic at Cornell University- 607-253-3060 Wild Things Sanctuary- 607-200-4100 Wildlife Wishing Well- 607-277-1547
What about dogs, cats, and other domestic animals?

No. Domestic and Ferral animals are protected by Ag & Markets. Wildlife Resolutions is not licensed to handle complaints about stray or barking dogs, cats in trees or sick or mistreated livestock. These types of issues should be directed to the Tompkins County SPCA.
Is Wildlife Resolutions the same thing as animal control?

No. Wildlife Resolutions is a wildlife control company that navigated the relationship between humans and wild animals. Animal control deals with domestic or feral animals. Tompkins County Animal Control: (607)592-6773
What happens to the animals once they are trapped?

Wildlife Resolutions does not translocate wildlife for several reasons. By law, animals like raccoons and skunks must be euthanized if they are removed from your property.
Can a wild animal be Relocated?

A wild animal can be relocated from a house or building to the outdoors if it is released on the same property. Removing an animal from a property to another property would be considered “Translocation” and is illegal in New York State.

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