Little Brown Bat Control in Kentucky
Pest Expert Matthew S. Hess
08/26/2025
Little brown bats are one of the most common bat species in Kentucky, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of insect populations. While their ecological contributions are valuable, their tendency to roost in attics can lead to serious concerns for homeowners. Beyond the general unease of having these creatures nearby, their presence can introduce genuine risks to the health and safety of a household, as well as potential damage to the property. Addressing this issue properly is essential for both the well-being of residents and the protection of this species.
Where Little Brown Bats Live
Little Brown Bats have an exceptional ability to detect concealed openings in various environments. In their natural habitat, these creatures roost in a variety of places, such as:
Caves – These bats are commonly found in caves where they can cluster together in large colonies. The dark, cool environment offers protection from predators and exposure to the elements.
Tree Cavities – Little brown bats often roost in tree hollows, especially in older forests. They tend to favor trees with loose bark, which can create crevices perfect for hiding.
Underneath Rocks – They can sometimes be found roosting under loose rocks or in crevices between boulders. This provides them with concealment and a stable temperature.
Hollow Logs and Stumps – They can also roost in natural cavities found in logs and stumps, taking advantage of these locations for warmth and protection.
Each of these sites provides safety and shelter for the bats as well as nearby food sources (insects) that thrive in nearby environments. When humans encroach upon areas where bats live, the bats are forced to find new roosting sites similar to those they would find in nature. These include:
Buildings – While this is more associated with their interactions with humans, in nature, they may utilize structures like barns or other outbuildings when natural roosting sites are scarce.
Bridges – In addition to trees and caves, they often roost in the crevices of old bridges that provide shelter and access to foraging areas.
Other Man-Made Structures – Besides buildings and bridges, bats may shelter in mines, wells, abandoned train cars, aircraft, cargo vessels, and vehicles, and many other similar man-made structures.
How Little Brown Bats Get Into Kentucky Attics
Little brown bats have an impressive capability to navigate through crevices as narrow as half an inch wide and maybe even a bit smaller. These tiny gaps can be found in several locations, ranging from the eaves of buildings to the cracks in old masonry. Common entry points for these bats often include not only these structural imperfections, but also:
- Vents
- Poorly sealed windows
- Attics
- Gaps where the roof meets the fascia board
- Spaces around chimneys or vents
- Loose or missing soffit panels
- Cracks in siding or masonry
- Openings behind shutters or trim
Once inside, they roost in dark, quiet spaces that are often undisturbed. They may roost for several years without being seen or heard. Many times, it isn’t until the smell or sound gives them away that they are discovered. By then, huge populations could be present, making them potentially dangerous and hazardous to the health of occupants.
Diseases Carried by Little Brown Bats
Once bats are living inside a home or building, their waste will also be present. This poses a two-fold problem: the bats themselves can carry diseases, and so can their waste.
While not every bat is infected, little brown bats can carry serious diseases like Rabies, which is a deadly virus that can be transmitted through a bite or even a scratch. Additionally, their guano can harbor Histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is a severe lung infection caused by inhaling spores from the fungus that grows in the bat’s guano.
Pests That Come With Bats
Even if bats roosting in your home or business aren’t carrying rabies or harboring histoplasmosis in their guano, there are still risks that are definitely unwanted. For instance, bats may carry fleas, mites, and bat bugs. Large infestations of bats often harbor bat bugs, and these critters can infest your living spaces very similarly to bed bugs. Often, bat bugs must also be eradicated after bats are evicted from a building.
Problems Caused by Bat Urine and Guano
Bats are messy houseguests. Over time, their droppings and urine can cause some serious problems besides illness and disease. The accumulation of their waste can:
- Create strong, foul odors that permeate the home.
- Damage to insulation and drywall.
- Promote mold growth in damp areas.
Each of these issues poses its own risks with allergies and other potential illnesses, making it even more crucial to evict any bats found living in your home.
Why Excluding Their Entry Is Critical
Once bats find a safe roosting spot, they return year after year. Simply removing them is not enough because they’ll come back unless every potential entry point is sealed. Exclusion involves identifying and blocking all gaps and cracks to prevent bats from re-entering. This is best performed by trained professionals like Four Seasons Pest Solutions. This way, we can ensure no animals are trapped inside and all areas are properly secured. And don’t worry, our crews are licensed, trained, and unafraid to make sure the bats living in your home get an eviction notice that’s followed through until the very end!
How They Affect Human Health
There is much to consider regarding the presence of bats in one’s home, including the nuisances they pose, such as noise and odor, as well as the psychological impact they may have, leading to anxiety and stress. However, the more pressing concern lies in the potential health risks associated with bat infestations, as we discussed earlier. Diseases such as rabies and histoplasmosis present real threats to human health and may often go undetected, resulting in severe complications and even fatalities.
It is important to note that the transmission of rabies may occur from minor bites or even light scratches; in some instances, individuals may not even be aware that they have been bitten or scratched. Even a fleeting encounter could result in a minor scratch that poses the risk of rabies transmission. Additionally, histoplasmosis can develop from inhaling dust contaminated with bat droppings, meaning that a simple occurrence, such as a windy day, could disperse this dust from an attic into living spaces, exposing occupants to potential infection.
Rabies Transmission: Easier Than You Think
While rabies in bats is not extremely common, the stakes are still high. The virus is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Even a small scratch or contact with saliva can transmit it. This is why any bat exposure should be treated as a potential rabies risk, especially if found in a bedroom where people were sleeping. Do-it-yourself bat control is a risk you should not be willing to take.
How Four Seasons Pest Solutions Can Help
At Four Seasons Pest Solutions, we specialize in humane bat control and exclusion in Kentucky. Our goal is to protect human life over animal life, and that includes evicting bats from buildings… the safe and approved way! Our process includes:
- Detailed inspection to locate all bat entry points.
- One-way exclusion devices that allow bats to leave safely but prevent them from coming back in are placed according to Kentucky laws.
- Sealing and repair of all gaps, vents, and openings so bats can’t re-enter.
- Safe cleanup of contaminated insulation, guano, and urine to restore your attic’s safety.
- Decontamination.
- Replacing insulation and repairing any damage caused by the bats, their waste, or the exclusion and cleanup process.
We know bats are important to Kentucky’s ecosystem, but they belong outside, not in your home putting your health and well-being at risk. With expert exclusion services from Four Seasons Pest Solutions, you can protect your family, your health, and your property.
Call us today to schedule a professional bat inspection and keep your home bat-free year-round.
And remember, it’s okay to live among pests… but you don’t have to live with them!
Four Seasons Pest Solutions
Four Seasons Pest Solutions