Bats in the Attic: What Texas Homeowners Need to Know

By Permian Basin Pest Control · Updated 2026-09-17

Texas has more bat species than any other state, and a colony in the attic is common in older homes and buildings. Bats are beneficial and protected, so removal must be done by exclusion, not extermination.

Signs of bats

Chirping at dusk, a strong ammonia smell, dark staining around a gap in the eaves, and guano (droppings that crumble into shiny insect fragments) below the entry point.

How bat exclusion works

1. Inspect the roofline at dusk to find every entry and exit point.
2. Seal all secondary gaps over 3/8 inch.
3. Install one-way exclusion devices on the main entries so bats leave but cannot return.
4. Remove the devices and seal permanently after the colony is out.

Timing matters

Exclusion should not be performed during maternity season (roughly May through August in Texas) when flightless pups are in the roost. Our bat removal team schedules around this window.

Guano cleanup

Bat guano can carry histoplasmosis. We remove contaminated insulation, vacuum with HEPA equipment and sanitize the attic as part of our bat guano cleanup service. Call (833) 659-0727.

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