Wichita Bat Removal & Humane Bat Exclusion
Wichita bat removal requires more than removing the bats that can be seen. When bats establish a roost in a home, commercial building, school, healthcare facility or other structure, the building must be inspected to determine where bats are entering, active roosts must be excluded at the proper time, and structural openings must be sealed to reduce the chance of re-entry.
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 Wichita and throughout the United States. Our work focuses on exclusion and structural bat-proofing rather than harming bats.
If you are seeing bats emerge from a Wichita building, hearing activity in an attic or wall, finding guano or repeatedly discovering bats indoors, call 866-747-2287.
Why Bats Get Into Wichita Homes and Buildings
Bats naturally seek protected places for daytime roosting, raising young and seasonal shelter. Buildings can provide many of the same conditions bats otherwise find in trees, caves, rock crevices and other natural roosts.
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks notes that bats can enter buildings through gaps or cracks approximately 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch or larger. Common access points include unscreened attic vents, deteriorated eaves, gaps around chimneys, loose siding, openings around pipes and wiring, and other small structural gaps.
Older homes, additions and large commercial structures can contain many potential openings that are difficult to identify from ground level. This is why professional bat exclusion and structural bat-proofing focuses on the entire building rather than simply sealing the first visible opening.
Bats Found in Kansas and the Wichita Area
Kansas is home to 15 species of bats. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks identifies several species that can form colonies in buildings, including:
- Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) – One of the most widespread Kansas bats and commonly associated with buildings and attics.
- Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) – Can use attics and other protected building spaces.
- Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis) – Another species documented forming colonies in Kansas buildings.
- Cave Myotis (Myotis velifer) – Found in south-central and southwestern Kansas and may sometimes roost in buildings.
Species identification and the time of year can be important when evaluating a colony because bat behavior, maternity activity and seasonal movement influence when exclusion should take place.
Signs Bats May Be Living in Your Wichita Property
A colony can remain hidden inside an attic, wall cavity or roof system before anyone sees bats inside an occupied room. Signs that warrant closer inspection include:
- Bats repeatedly emerging from the same portion of a building around dusk.
- Bat droppings beneath an exterior opening, along a wall or inside an attic.
- Dark staining or rub marks around structural openings.
- Chirping, scratching or movement inside walls, ceilings or attic spaces.
- Persistent odors associated with accumulated guano and urine.
- Bats repeatedly appearing inside occupied portions of the building.
One bat inside a building does not automatically mean a colony is present. Repeated activity, accumulated droppings or bats consistently emerging from the same exterior opening are stronger indications of an established roost.
Professional Wichita Bat Removal Is a Structural Exclusion Project
A lasting solution involves more than capturing individual bats. When a colony is using a building, professional exclusion is designed to allow bats to leave while preventing them from getting back inside.
A United Bat Control exclusion project may include:
- Inspection and Assessment: Examine the roofline, exterior surfaces, attic and other accessible areas for bat activity and possible entry points.
- Locate Active Openings: Determine which gaps bats are currently using to enter and exit.
- Identify Secondary Openings: Find other gaps that could become alternate entrances after the primary opening is addressed.
- Seal Inactive Openings: Close secondary gaps using materials appropriate for the building.
- Install One-Way Exclusion Devices: Allow bats to leave active roost openings without allowing them to return.
- Allow the Colony to Exit: Leave exclusion devices in place for an appropriate period under suitable weather conditions.
- Complete Final Bat-Proofing: Permanently close active entry points after the bats have departed.
- Evaluate Guano and Contamination: Determine whether accumulated droppings or affected materials require additional cleanup.
- Follow Up: Confirm that the exclusion is working and address conditions specific to the property.
Why the Bat Entrance Should Not Simply Be Sealed
If bats remain inside, immediately sealing an active entrance can trap them in an attic, roof system or wall cavity. Trapped bats may move farther into the structure and sometimes enter occupied rooms while searching for another exit.
Kansas wildlife guidance recommends identifying the entrances and exits, installing a one-way door or properly positioned exclusion material, allowing sufficient time for the bats to leave, and then sealing the openings after the colony has departed.
Bat Exclusion Timing in Kansas
Timing is especially important when a maternity colony is using a building. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks describes the general bat activity cycle this way:
- March through early May: Bats return from winter roosts and maternity colonies begin to form.
- May through late June: Bat pups are born and cannot yet fly. KDWP does not recommend exclusion during this period.
- July through August: Young bats begin learning to fly and become increasingly independent.
- September through October: Bats begin leaving summer roosts for winter sites. KDWP identifies this as the best time for exclusion.
- November through February: Many bats are hibernating, and exclusion is not recommended.
KDWP also notes that early spring or fall are preferred times for building exclusion because flightless young are not present.
One-Way Bat Exclusion in Wichita
Kansas wildlife guidance recommends one-way exclusion devices for colonies using buildings. Once all active entrances and exits have been located, exclusion material is positioned so bats can leave but have difficulty returning through the same opening.
KDWP recommends leaving a one-way exclusion device in place long enough to allow the colony to depart and notes that bats may not leave on rainy evenings. Only after the bats have successfully exited should the remaining openings be permanently sealed.
The objective is not simply to make the bats disappear for a night. The objective is to correct the structural conditions that allowed the colony to use the building.
Residential Bat Removal in Wichita
Residential bat problems frequently involve attics, roof intersections, chimneys, vents, soffits, fascia, siding and wall cavities. A home may contain numerous potential entry points, so correcting only the most obvious opening may not resolve the problem.
United Bat Control provides residential bat removal and exclusion for homeowners dealing with bats in attics, walls, chimneys and occupied rooms.
The objective is to correct the building conditions that allow bats to use the structure rather than simply remove the animals that happen to be visible today.
Commercial Bat Removal in Wichita
Commercial bat exclusion can be substantially more complicated than work on a typical home. Warehouses, distribution facilities, apartment and multi-unit properties, manufacturing plants, offices, retail properties and other large structures may contain extensive rooflines and numerous possible entry points.
Large projects may also require exclusion work to be coordinated around employees, customers, tenants, equipment and normal facility operations.
United Bat Control provides commercial and industrial bat removal for properties requiring a building-wide approach to inspection, exclusion and prevention.
Bat Removal for Wichita Schools and Universities
A bat appearing in a classroom, auditorium, gymnasium, office or other occupied educational space presents concerns beyond the individual animal. Large school and campus buildings may contain interconnected attics, roof spaces, mechanical areas and wall cavities that make it difficult to determine where the bat originated.
United Bat Control provides specialized bat removal and exclusion for schools and universities, including large and complex facilities where work may need to be coordinated with administrators and facility management.
Wichita has experienced bat issues in public-school buildings, illustrating why a single indoor bat can sometimes be part of a larger structural problem. Read more in our article about bat activity in Wichita public schools.
Bat Removal for Wichita Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals, medical offices, assisted-living facilities and other healthcare properties may require additional planning because patient and treatment areas must remain protected while the source of bat entry is investigated.
United Bat Control provides bat removal and exclusion for healthcare facilities, including complex structures where exclusion work may require coordination with facility management.
Bat Guano and Histoplasmosis
A long-established bat colony can leave accumulations of guano beneath a roost. The amount of material, its location and the conditions in the space determine whether specialized cleanup is appropriate.
Histoplasmosis is caused by breathing in spores from the fungus Histoplasma. CDC reports that the fungus grows especially well in soil and other environmental material containing large amounts of bird or bat droppings.
Disturbing contaminated material can release fungal spores into the air. The presence of bat droppings does not automatically establish that Histoplasma is present, but large accumulations should be approached carefully rather than swept or vacuumed without evaluating the conditions.
For additional information, visit our bat health hazards page.
What to Do If a Bat Is Inside a Wichita Home or Occupied Room
Do not handle a bat with bare hands. CDC advises avoiding direct contact with bats because bites and scratches can be small and may not always be obvious.
If a person has been bitten, scratched or may have had direct contact with a bat, contact a healthcare professional or local health department promptly.
If possible rabies exposure has occurred, consult public-health officials before releasing or disposing of the bat because testing may be recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wichita Bat Removal
What is the fastest way to get bats out of a Wichita house?
When bats are living inside a structure, the appropriate solution is usually professional exclusion. Active entry points are identified, secondary openings are secured and one-way devices allow bats to leave without getting back inside. Capturing individual bats does not correct the structural openings being used by the colony.
How much does bat removal cost in Wichita?
The cost depends on the building and the scope of work. Important factors include the size and height of the structure, roof design, number of entry points, accessibility, amount of sealing required, location of the roost and whether guano cleanup or repairs are necessary. An inspection is the best way to determine the actual scope.
When is the best time to exclude bats in Kansas?
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks identifies September through October as the best general period for exclusion. KDWP advises against exclusion from May through late June while flightless young are present and also advises against exclusion during the winter hibernation period.
Why can’t I just seal the hole the bats are using?
Sealing an active entrance while bats remain inside can trap them within the building. They may then move through walls, ceilings or other spaces while searching for another exit. Active openings are normally addressed with one-way exclusion before final sealing.
How small an opening can a bat use?
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks notes that bats can enter buildings through gaps or cracks approximately 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch or larger. This is why effective exclusion requires careful inspection of the building rather than addressing only large or obvious openings.
Do bats chew holes into houses?
Bats generally use openings that already exist rather than creating their own structural entrances. Preventing their return therefore depends on identifying and sealing those openings after proper exclusion.
Will ultrasonic devices remove bats from an attic?
Ultrasonic devices are not a substitute for structural exclusion. CDC guidance states that ultrasonic devices are not effective for eliminating bats from a roosting area. A lasting solution requires identifying the openings bats are using, allowing the bats to leave and then securing the building against re-entry.
Does one bat inside mean there is a colony in the attic?
Not necessarily. A single bat can accidentally enter an occupied room. Repeated indoor appearances, accumulated guano, sounds in walls or ceilings, or bats consistently emerging from the same portion of the building are stronger indications of an established roost.
Why can professional bat removal become expensive?
Bat exclusion is often a building-envelope project rather than a simple animal-removal job. A complex structure may have extensive rooflines, multiple entry points, difficult access and substantial sealing requirements. Cleanup, specialized access equipment and repairs can also affect the scope of work.
Can United Bat Control handle large commercial bat problems in Wichita?
Yes. United Bat Control works with residential properties as well as commercial, industrial and institutional facilities. Larger projects may require extensive inspection, multiple exclusion areas and coordination with building management or normal facility operations.
Wichita and Sedgwick County Service Area
United Bat Control provides professional bat removal and exclusion throughout Wichita and surrounding communities, including properties in and around:
- Downtown Wichita
- East Wichita
- West Wichita
- North Wichita
- South Wichita
- Derby
- Andover
- Maize
- Park City
- Haysville
- Goddard
- Sedgwick County communities
Why Property Owners Choose United Bat Control
- Specializing in professional 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 Wichita Bat Removal
If bats are living in your Wichita home, commercial property, school, healthcare facility or other building, United Bat Control can evaluate the structure and develop an appropriate exclusion plan.
Call 866-747-2287 for professional Wichita bat removal and exclusion.
You can also contact United Bat Control online.