Lincoln Bat Removal & Humane Bat Exclusion
When bats move into a Lincoln home or building, removing the bats that can be seen is only part of the solution. The structure must be inspected to determine where bats are entering, active roosts must be addressed at the proper time, and the openings that allowed the bats inside must be professionally sealed.
United Bat Control has specialized in professional bat removal and exclusion since 1998. We provide humane bat-control services for residential, commercial and institutional properties in Lincoln and nationwide. Our approach focuses on exclusion and structural bat-proofing rather than harming bats.
If you are hearing bats in an attic or wall, seeing bats emerge from a Lincoln building, finding guano or repeatedly finding bats indoors, call 866-747-2287.
Why Bats Use Buildings in Lincoln, Nebraska
Bats naturally seek protected places for daytime roosting, maternity colonies and seasonal shelter. In developed areas, attics, wall cavities, soffits, rooflines, vents and other protected parts of buildings can provide the same type of shelter bats would otherwise find in natural crevices.
Nebraska Extension notes that bats living in urban areas commonly use attics and other structural spaces. They can enter through surprisingly small openings, which means the entrance used by a colony may be difficult to identify from ground level.
Common access areas include gaps along fascia and soffits, roof intersections, flashing, siding, vents, chimneys and openings created where different building materials meet. A successful bat exclusion therefore requires examining the building as an entire structure rather than sealing only one visible hole.
Bats Commonly Associated With Nebraska Buildings
Nebraska has 13 recorded bat species, but only some regularly use buildings. For property owners in Lincoln, the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) is particularly important because it adapts well to developed areas and regularly uses attics, barns and other structures for shelter.
Big brown bats can form colonies during warmer months and can also use buildings during colder periods. Their ability to use man-made structures makes them one of the bats most likely to create a recurring building problem.
The eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat and silver-haired bat also occur in Nebraska, although these species are more commonly associated with trees and outdoor roosts. The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) also occurs in Nebraska, but Nebraska Game and Parks reports that it has long been uncommon in eastern Nebraska and has been further affected by white-nose syndrome.
How to Tell Whether Bats Are Living in a Lincoln Building
A colony can remain hidden inside a building long before someone actually sees a bat indoors. Signs that warrant an inspection include:
- Bats repeatedly emerging from one section of a roofline around dusk.
- Guano accumulating below an opening, on a roof, porch, attic floor or exterior wall.
- Dark staining or rub marks around small gaps or openings.
- Chirping, scratching or movement in walls, ceilings or attic spaces.
- Strong or persistent odors associated with a long-term roost.
- Bats repeatedly appearing inside occupied areas.
A single bat inside a house does not necessarily mean that a colony is present. Repeated indoor appearances or bats consistently using the same exterior opening are much stronger indications of a structural roost.
Professional Bat Removal Means Excluding the Colony
Professional bat removal is different from trapping an ordinary household pest. When bats are established inside a building, the objective is to allow them to leave while preventing them from returning.
A typical United Bat Control exclusion project may involve:
- Property Inspection: Examine the roofline, exterior surfaces, attic and other accessible areas for evidence of bat activity.
- Locate Active Entry Points: Determine which openings bats are currently using.
- Identify Secondary Gaps: Find openings that could become alternate entrances after the primary opening is addressed.
- Seal Inactive Openings: Close secondary gaps with materials appropriate for the structure.
- Install One-Way Exclusion Devices: Allow bats to exit active openings while preventing re-entry.
- Allow Time for Departure: Leave exclusion devices in place long enough for the colony to leave under suitable weather conditions.
- Complete Final Bat-Proofing: Permanently seal active openings after exclusion is complete.
- Evaluate Guano and Contamination: Determine whether accumulated droppings or affected materials require additional cleanup.
- Follow Up: Confirm that the exclusion is effective and address project-specific conditions.
Why You Should Not Simply Seal the Bat Entrance
Finding the opening bats are using does not mean it should immediately be sealed. If bats remain inside, closing the entrance can trap them within an attic or wall system. Trapped bats may move farther into the structure and can sometimes enter occupied portions of the building while searching for another way out.
Professional exclusion keeps active exits available through one-way devices while other potential entry points are secured. Once the bats have left, the remaining openings can be permanently sealed.
Bat Exclusion Season in Lincoln and Nebraska
Timing matters because bats may establish maternity colonies in buildings during the warmer months. Female bats give birth to young that initially cannot fly. If adults are excluded while flightless young remain inside, the young can be trapped in the structure.
University of Nebraska guidance recommends that one-way exclusion devices not be installed from May 1 through August 15 when flightless young may be present. The specific circumstances of a building should still be evaluated because colony development and weather can vary.
An inspection can still be performed during this period. Entry points can be identified, the extent of the problem can be evaluated and an exclusion plan can be prepared for the appropriate time.
Residential Bat Removal in Lincoln
Lincoln homes can provide bats with numerous small entry points along rooflines, siding, soffits, attic vents and chimneys. Older homes can have settling gaps and construction openings, while newer homes may have roof and ventilation systems with small gaps that bats can exploit.
United Bat Control provides residential bat removal and exclusion for homeowners dealing with bats in attics, walls, chimneys and occupied areas.
The objective is not merely to remove today’s bats. It is to identify how the building is being used and reduce the opportunity for the same problem to return.
Commercial Bat Removal in Lincoln
Bat exclusion becomes more complex on large buildings. Warehouses, apartment buildings, offices, manufacturing facilities, churches, schools, healthcare buildings and other commercial or institutional structures may contain extensive rooflines and many potential entry points.
Large facilities may also require work to be planned around employees, occupants, customers, tenants, students or normal operating schedules.
United Bat Control provides commercial and industrial bat removal as well as specialized services for schools and universities and healthcare facilities.
Bat Problems in Schools, Churches and Large Public Buildings
A bat appearing in a classroom, sanctuary, hallway, office or other occupied space presents a different concern from bats simply flying outdoors around the property. Large institutional buildings can contain interconnected roof spaces, mechanical areas and wall cavities that make it difficult to determine where the bat originated.
When recurring bat activity occurs in an occupied building, the investigation should focus on both the interior route the bat may have followed and the exterior openings that originally allowed access to the structure.
Bat Guano and Histoplasmosis
Long-term bat colonies can leave accumulations of guano beneath a roost. The amount of material and the conditions in the area determine whether specialized cleanup is appropriate.
Histoplasmosis is caused by inhaling spores from the fungus Histoplasma. The fungus can grow particularly well in environmental material containing large amounts of bird or bat droppings. The concern increases when contaminated material is disturbed and dust becomes airborne.
Not every bat roost contains Histoplasma, and the presence of bat droppings does not mean someone will become ill. Large accumulations should nevertheless be approached carefully rather than swept or vacuumed without evaluating the conditions.
See our bat health hazards page for additional information.
What to Do If a Bat Is Flying Inside Your Lincoln Home
Do not handle a bat with bare hands. If a bat has merely entered an occupied room and no human or pet contact may have occurred, the situation is different from discovering a colony in the attic.
If a person may have been bitten, scratched or had direct physical contact with a bat, contact a healthcare professional or public-health authority promptly. Bat bites can be very small and may not always be obvious.
If possible rabies exposure has occurred, obtain public-health guidance before releasing or disposing of the bat because testing may be recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bat Removal in Lincoln, Nebraska
What is the fastest way to get bats out of a Lincoln house?
For a colony living inside a structure, professional exclusion is normally the appropriate solution. Entry points are identified, secondary openings are sealed and one-way devices allow bats to leave without returning. Removing individual bats does not correct the openings that allowed the colony to establish itself.
How much does bat removal cost in Lincoln?
The cost depends on the building rather than simply the number of bats. Important factors include the height and size of the structure, roof design, number of entry points, accessibility, amount of sealing required, location of the colony and whether guano cleanup or repairs are needed. An inspection is the best way to determine the scope of work.
When can bats be excluded from a building in Nebraska?
Timing must account for maternity colonies and flightless young. University of Nebraska guidance recommends avoiding one-way exclusion from May 1 through August 15. Conditions at the specific property should be evaluated before an exclusion is started.
How small of a hole can a bat use to enter a house?
Bats can enter through very small structural openings. Nebraska Extension reports that bats can use openings approximately 3/8 inch in size. This is one reason a complete roofline and exterior inspection is important: the entrance may not look large enough to a property owner to be an obvious wildlife opening.
Can I seal the bat entrance after the bats leave at night?
That can be risky because not every bat may leave on the same evening, poor weather may keep some bats inside and flightless young may be unable to leave at all. Professional exclusion uses one-way devices and an appropriate exclusion period before the active opening is permanently closed.
Does one bat in my Lincoln house mean I have an infestation?
No. A single bat can accidentally enter an occupied room. A colony is more likely when bats repeatedly appear inside, guano is accumulating, sounds are coming from walls or ceilings, or bats are regularly seen exiting the same portion of the building around dusk.
Will ultrasonic devices make bats leave an attic?
Ultrasonic devices are not a substitute for exclusion and structural bat-proofing. A lasting solution requires determining where bats are entering, allowing them to leave safely and sealing the building against re-entry.
Do bats chew holes into roofs or walls?
No. Bats use openings that already exist. They do not chew wood, roofing or siding to create entry holes. Prevention therefore depends on locating and properly sealing existing gaps after the bats have been excluded.
Why can bat removal become expensive?
Bat exclusion can involve much more than installing one device. A complex building may have dozens or hundreds of feet of roofline, multiple potential openings, difficult access and significant sealing requirements. Cleanup or repair work can also increase the scope. The cost reflects the work required to prevent the bats from simply entering somewhere else.
Can United Bat Control handle commercial bat problems in Lincoln?
Yes. United Bat Control works with residential properties as well as commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. Large projects may require extensive inspections, multiple exclusion areas and coordination with facility management or normal building operations.
Lincoln and Lancaster County Service Area
United Bat Control provides bat removal and exclusion throughout Lincoln and surrounding communities, including properties in and around:
- Downtown Lincoln
- Near South
- Havelock
- University Place
- College View
- Bethany
- North Lincoln
- South Lincoln
- East Lincoln
- West Lincoln
- Waverly
- Hickman
- Bennet
- Roca
- Lancaster County communities
Why Property Owners Choose United Bat Control
- Specializing in bat control since 1998.
- Humane exclusion and structural bat-proofing.
- Residential, commercial and institutional capabilities.
- Experience with large and complex buildings.
- Nationwide service capability.
- Inspection-based solutions developed for the individual property.
- Warranty coverage is available on qualifying bat-exclusion projects. Specific warranty terms are provided with each proposal based on the property, building conditions and scope of work.
Contact United Bat Control for Lincoln Bat Removal
If bats are living in your Lincoln home, commercial property, school or other building, United Bat Control can evaluate the structure and develop an appropriate exclusion plan.
Call 866-747-2287 for professional bat removal and exclusion in Lincoln, Nebraska.
You can also contact United Bat Control online.