If you’ve ever sat in your living room and heard soft fluttering or odd squeaks coming from the attic, you’re not alone. Many homeowners in Michigan have discovered bat infestations this way. They are known for being quiet flyers, but when they set up a roost inside your home, their presence can become hard to ignore.
Let’s walk through the different sounds bats make, what causes them, and what you should do if you hear them in your home.
Key Takeaways
- Bat noises often include chirps, squeaks, fluttering, and scurrying that you might hear from attics or walls.
- Different species of bats make unique sounds like echolocation clicks, high-pitched squeals, and social calls within a colony.
- Strange sounds should be checked with bat detectors while avoiding the roost and watching for droppings or guano.
- Bat removal works best when entry points are sealed and local wildlife control experts handle the job safely.
Echolocation Clicks and Sonar Pulses
Bats use echolocation to navigate in the dark, sending out ultrasonic sounds that bounce off walls, objects, and prey. These sound waves return to them, and bats interpret these sounds like a sonar system.
While echolocation calls are typically above the range of human hearing, the echoes from certain surfaces can sometimes be faintly picked up by the human ear, especially in small spaces like attics.
If you hear clicking or rhythmic tapping near dusk, that may be them preparing to leave the roost.
Chirps and Bat Calls
You might think echolocation is the only sound bats make, but it’s not. Many species of bats, including the big brown bat and little brown bat, use vocalizations to communicate with each other.
These chirps and bat calls vary by context. Some are used to attract mates, while others help coordinate movement inside a roost.
If you’re hearing frequent, sharp chirping from your attic, especially at night, it may be coming from an active bat colony.
High-Pitched Squeaks
One of the more noticeable bat sounds to the human ear is the high-frequency sounds. These are sharper and faster than chirps and can happen when they feel threatened, jostle for space, or when mothers call out to pups.
These high-pitched squeaks might seem random, but they’re part of complex social behaviors among bats.
Scurrying and Light Scratching
Bats don’t stomp around like raccoons or other larger wildlife, but they do move. If they’re roosting above your ceiling or behind walls, you might hear light scurrying or fluttering as they reposition themselves.
They crawl to reach optimal perching spots or adjust their hang, especially in shared roosts. These soft but persistent noises can be misinterpreted as rodents, but unlike mice, they don’t gnaw or chew.
Wing Fluttering and Rustling
Bats are incredibly light, but in enclosed spaces, their wing movements can still be heard. When they return from feeding or take off at night, their wings produce a soft fluttering sound. This isn’t as loud as a bird’s flapping, but it’s often heard in bursts.
If you catch fluttering followed by silence in the early evening or early morning, it could be a sign that they are entering or exiting your home.
Pup Vocalizations
Each summer, different species of bats give birth to pups. These baby bats produce soft vocalizations, like short, sharp squeals, that can be heard when they’re separated from their mothers or trying to stay close within the colony.
These pup noises are often the only sounds you’ll hear during the daytime, since adult bats rest quietly during daylight hours.
What to Do if You Hear Bat Noises in Your Home
Hearing strange noises from your attic or walls? Before you assume it’s bats, or dismiss it as nothing, there are a few smart steps you can take to figure out what’s going on and avoid making the problem worse.
Here’s what to do next if you suspect they’re roosting in your home:
Confirm the Sound Source With Bat Detectors
Not all attic noises are a sign of a bat infestation. Rodents, squirrels, and raccoons all create their brand of chaos.
If you suspect them, one of the best tools you can use is a bat detector. These devices pick up ultrasonic sounds and convert them into a frequency audible to humans.
They’re especially helpful for identifying the types of bats you might be dealing with based on the echolocation calls detected.
Avoid Disturbing the Roost
Once you’ve heard suspicious bat noises, resist the temptation to poke around. Bats can scatter quickly, especially if they feel threatened, and that can spread the issue throughout your home.
Worse, some species are protected, and disrupting their roost, especially during pup-rearing season, can be illegal.
It’s best to leave the area untouched and get an expert assessment.
Inspect for Bat Guano and Droppings
Bat droppings, also called bat guano, often accumulate near roosting spots. Over time, this waste can lead to odor, structural damage, and even health issues. One concern is histoplasmosis, a lung infection caused by fungal spores found in guano.
If you’ve heard these sounds for weeks or longer, there’s a good chance they’ve left droppings behind that require careful cleanup.
Seal Your Home After Exclusion
Once the bats are gone, it’s essential to seal up every possible reentry point. These can be as small as a dime and include roof vents, fascia gaps, and loose siding.
A complete exclusion plan not only keeps them out but also prevents other wildlife from getting in. After all, they aren’t the only critters that love a cozy attic.
Call a Pest Control Professional for Wildlife Removal
Bats are protected under Michigan law, so removing them requires the right timing and method. Professional bat control teams like Pest Pros of Michigan are trained in humane removal and know how to work around state guidelines. We use proven exclusion techniques that let them leave safely, without letting them return.
Whether it’s one bat or an entire colony of flying foxes (uncommon in Michigan, but occasionally seen in captivity), our team can help you get rid of bats the right way.
So if you’re losing sleep over bat noises or just want peace of mind, give us a call.
We’ll help you keep the bats out, for good.
