Big brown bats
The bat we find in attics most often. They roost in groups, often under ridge vents and in wall gaps.
- Attics, soffits, wall voids
- Active at dusk, leaving to feed
Home / Services / Rodents and wildlife / Bat exclusion
Bats in the attic leave droppings, noise and odors, and can carry rabies. We never harm them. Our licensed Loudoun County technicians guide bats out with one-way devices, seal every gap and clean up safely.
Bat exclusion is the humane way to remove bats from a building. We find the exits, fit one-way devices that let bats leave at night but not return, and then permanently seal every opening. Bats are protected in some cases, and sealing them inside would be both harmful and ineffective, so careful timing is essential.
Bats can squeeze through gaps about 3/8 of an inch wide, so a roof can have many entry points. A colony in your attic can leave droppings, stains and odors, and bats can carry rabies, so it is not a do-it-yourself job. Bats also eat large numbers of insects, including mosquitoes, so we aim to move them out of your home, not out of your neighborhood.
Illustrations show typical coloring. We identify the species and check for young before any work.
The bat we find in attics most often. They roost in groups, often under ridge vents and in wall gaps.
Once very common, their numbers have dropped sharply. They still use attics and buildings for summer roosts.
Mostly roost in trees, and are sometimes found hanging on porches or siding, rather than in attics.
We recommend a plan after the inspection, based on the species, the number of entry points and the time of year.
Placed over the main exits so bats can fly out at night but cannot get back in. No bats are trapped, harmed or poisoned.
Once the bats are out, we seal every gap with metal, flashing and durable materials built to last.
We can install a bat house nearby so displaced bats have a place to roost, and your yard keeps its natural mosquito control.
Safe removal of droppings and soiled insulation with protective gear, followed by sanitizing where needed.
Also see our wildlife control, raccoon removal and attic cleanup pages.
We time the work so no young bats are trapped, and explain the plan in writing first.
Book a bat inspectionWe check the roofline, vents, siding, chimney and attic to find every entry point and see where the bats exit at dusk.
We install one-way exit devices at the main exits and let the bats leave on their own.
When the bats are out, we remove the devices and permanently seal all openings.
We recommend guano cleanup and insulation replacement, and install a bat house if you like.
General safety guidance, not medical advice.
Do not handle a bat with bare hands. Close the doors to the room, keep people and pets out and call for help.
If a bat was in a room with a sleeping person, a child or a pet, or if someone is bitten or scratched, contact a doctor or the Loudoun County Health Department. Do not release the bat, so it can be tested if needed.
Do not sweep or vacuum guano in the attic. Large accumulations can cause a lung infection, so leave cleanup to professionals.
We work across Loudoun County every day, so we know where bats turn up in our neighborhoods.
Water means insects, and insects mean bats. Homes near Broad Run, Beaverdam Creek, neighborhood ponds and the W&OD Trail often have bats feeding overhead at dusk.
In Brambleton, Broadlands, Belmont and South Riding, small gaps at ridge vents, soffits, fascia and gable vents are the usual entry points for bats.
West Loudoun towns such as Aldie, Leesburg and Purcellville have older houses, barns and outbuildings that offer lots of roost sites.
In Ashburn Village, Ashburn Farm and Lansdowne, shared attic spaces and rooflines mean bats can move between units. We coordinate with neighbors and HOAs.
Tree-lined streets and wooded buffers give bats cover and nearby roosts, which makes nearby roofs easy to reach.
Steeples, flat roofs and mechanical rooms at larger buildings, including those near One Loudoun and along the Dulles Greenway corridor, can host colonies. We schedule work around your hours.
We are based in Ashburn and serve homes and businesses across Loudoun County and nearby communities. Not sure if we cover you? Call (571) 704-8010 and ask.
Our home base. Fast response to Ashburn Village, Ashburn Farm, Belmont and One Loudoun.
Neighborhoods near Dulles and Algonkian, with wooded parks and older homes.
Historic downtown, neighborhoods and larger lots with mature trees.
Golf course and wooded-buffer communities close to Ashburn.
Newer homes near Brambleton Town Center and park trails.
Wooded and pond-side neighborhoods just southwest of Ashburn.
Planned communities with trails, ponds and green space.
Larger properties and rural edges on the west side of the county.
Homes and businesses in the Chantilly area near Fairfax County.
Established neighborhoods east of Ashburn and near Dulles.
Western Loudoun homes, farms and wooded lots.
Common ZIP codes we serve include 20147, 20148, 20152, 20105, 20164, 20165, 20166, 20175, 20176, 20132, 20151, 20170 and 20171. See all service areas.
Bats return from winter and females look for warm roosts. Inspect and plan.
Pups are born and cannot fly. Exclusion is avoided so young are not trapped.
Young can fly, which makes this the usual window for exclusion and sealing.
Some bats can hibernate in buildings. We check carefully before any winter work.
Simple steps that make exclusion last.
Dealing with other pests too? See our full list of pest control services, or the home prevention checklist.
We never poison or harm bats and we time the work to protect young.
We seal every entry point, not just the one you can see.
You know the price and the plan before work begins.
Call us. We can advise on safe next steps and timing for exclusion.
Monday to Saturday, 7 am to 7 pm
Common signs are scratching or squeaking in the attic or walls at dusk and dawn, dark pellet-like droppings called guano under entry points and in the attic, grease stains around small gaps, and bats seen leaving your roof at dusk.
Bats are valuable insect eaters, and some species are protected by state and federal law. We use humane exclusion methods only, never poison or harm bats, and follow the rules about timing.
Exclusion is avoided in summer when flightless young are in the roost, because sealing the adults out would leave the young trapped. The best time is usually late summer through fall, when young can fly. We explain the timing for your situation.
It is a device placed over the main entry points that lets bats fly out at night but not get back in. Once the bats have left, we permanently seal the openings.
Bats can squeeze through gaps as small as about 3/8 of an inch, roughly the width of a finger. That is why a whole-roof inspection matters, since missing one gap lets them back in.
Bats can carry rabies, and bat bites can be tiny. If a bat is found in a room with a sleeping person, a child or a pet, or if someone has been bitten or scratched, contact a doctor or the local health department and do not release the bat. Never handle a bat with bare hands.
Large guano accumulations can grow a fungus that causes a lung infection called histoplasmosis. Do not sweep, vacuum or disturb droppings in an attic yourself. We offer safe cleanup and sanitizing.
Tell us what you are hearing or seeing and we will call you back the same business day. Prefer to talk now? Call us.
(571) 704-8010