If you’re searching for how to keep bats out of your home this fall, you want clear, fast answers.

This guide provides you with helpful and practical steps you can start today, as well as guidance on when it makes sense to call a local professional.

Everything is written for Des Moines homeowners, so the tips match the way our homes are built and how bats behave here.

What You’ll Learn About Keeping Bats Out:

Why Bats Look for Homes Like Yours in the Fall

As nights get cooler, bats start seeking warm, quiet places to roost. Attics, chimneys, soffits, gable vents, and small gaps along the roofline provide the dark, stable air they prefer.

In older Des Moines homes, settling and weathering create hairline openings. Newer builds can have unsealed penetrations around vents and fascia. Either way, a gap the size of a dime can be enough.

If your home has small gaps, it can feel like an open invitation to a bat colony. Understanding this helps you decide how to keep bats away before they settle in. Focus on the most common entry spots:

  • Attic vents and ridge caps

  • Loose soffit or fascia boards

  • Chimney flues without secure caps

  • Gaps around utility lines and exhaust vents

A brown long-eared bat hanging in a Des Moines attic — Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management shows homeowners how to keep bats out of their house in Iowa

Before we dive into prevention, it’s important to know if bats may already be inside. In the next section, we’ll look at the most common signs homeowners notice when bats move into attics or walls.

Signs You May Already Have Bats Indoors

Before you can focus on how to keep bats out of your house, it helps to know whether they’ve already found a way in.

Bats are quiet and often go unnoticed until there are clear signs.

Looking over these areas regularly helps you spot bat activity early and stop it before it turns into a larger infestation.

Here’s what to look for:

  • 1

    Scratching or fluttering in the attic at night.

    Because bats are nocturnal, unusual sounds above your ceiling or in the walls after dark are often a giveaway.

  • 2

    Small black droppings (guano) near entry points.

    You might spot them on attic floors, window sills, or under vents where bats squeeze through.

  • 3

    A strong ammonia-like odor.

    Bat guano and urine build up quickly, leaving behind a lingering smell that can spread into living areas.

  • 4

    Dark stains near vents or chimneys.

    Oily smudges or streaks around openings are signs bats use the same gap repeatedly.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to act quickly. First, make sure the bats are removed safely, then take prevention steps to keep them from coming back.

In the next section, we’ll walk through the most effective methods for how to keep bats out of your house in Des Moines this fall, so you can stop the problem before it grows.

How to Keep Bats Out of Your House This Fall

Whether you’ve only seen bats flying near your roof or you just want peace of mind before fall sets in, prevention is key.

These steps focus on how to keep bats out of your house so they never settle inside in the first place—or return after safe removal.

Seal Small Gaps and Common Entry Points

One of the simplest ways to deter bats from home is by closing off the spots they use to squeeze in. Walk around your house during the day and look for small openings near:

  • Rooflines and ridge caps

  • Soffits or fascia boards

  • Chimney flues without a tight cap

  • Gaps around vents and utility lines

Even an opening just half an inch wide can be enough for a bat. Sealing those gaps with caulk, mesh, or weather-resistant covers is one of the most reliable ways on keeping bats out of your house.

Use One-Way Exclusion Devices Safely

If bats are already inside, you’ll want them out before sealing anything.

One-way exclusion devices are designed to let bats leave at night but prevent them from flying back in. It’s the most humane solution.

Timing matters, though. In Iowa, bats raise their young in summer, so exclusions are best done in the fall when the pups can fly. That way, you’re not trapping baby bats indoors.

Light and Airflow Can Deter Roosting

Bats prefer still, dark spaces. Adding movement and brightness can make your attic less appealing.

An attic fan or occasional lighting in spaces where bats tend to roost can work as a temporary deterrent.

Reduce Attractants Around Your Yard

Keeping your yard less inviting can also help with keeping bats away from your home:

  • Remove standing water that attracts insects (a bat’s main food source).

  • Rake up fallen fruit or food scraps that draw bugs.

  • Trim heavy tree branches that give bats easy landing spots near your roofline.

Provide a Safe Alternative (Bat House)

Sometimes the best way to protect your home is by giving bats another option.

A bat house placed on a pole or a shed away from your roofline offers them a safe roosting spot while keeping them out of your attic.

For many Des Moines homeowners asking “how to keep bats out”, this balance—protecting your home while letting bats live elsewhere—is a win-win.

Taking these actions together gives you a solid prevention plan. Some steps you can do yourself, while others—like installing exclusion devices—may be best left to licensed professionals.

In the next part, we’ll talk about why DIY isn’t always enough and when to bring in experts for safe, legal bat removal.

Why DIY Isn’t Always Enough

While some prevention tasks—like sealing gaps or trimming trees—are things you can handle on your own, dealing with bats directly can put your health at risk. Here are a few reasons why:

Rabies exposure

Even though only a small percentage of bats carry rabies, the risk is serious. A bite or scratch—even one you don’t notice right away—can transmit the disease.

That’s why experts recommend avoiding direct contact.

Guano cleanup

Bat guano may release fungal spores that trigger histoplasmosis, a lung infection that develops when those spores are inhaled.

Cleaning guano without proper safety gear stirs up spores that are unsafe to breathe in.

Legal protections in Iowa

Bats are a protected species in Iowa, which means there are restrictions on when and how they can be removed.

Using the wrong method or timing could put you in violation of wildlife regulations.

For homeowners searching “is it safe to remove bats on my own” or “how do you keep bats away safely”, the answer is clear: prevention is fine, but removal should be left to licensed professionals.

They know how to manage the risks, comply with state laws, and make sure bats are handled humanely.

When It’s Time to Call a Professional

If bats are already inside, the safest and fastest option is to call Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management here in Des Moines. Prevention steps are helpful, but once bats have settled in, you need more than DIY fixes.

Here’s why calling a professional makes the difference:

1. Humane removal

Licensed specialists use methods that let bats leave without harming them, protecting both your family and the animals.

2. Expert sealing

After the bats are gone, professionals close every possible entry point so the colony doesn’t return.

3. Local knowledge

As a Des Moines-based team, Bobcat understands how Iowa homes are built and where bats are most likely to sneak in.

4. Peace of mind

You don’t have to worry about safety risks, legal rules, or whether the bats will come back—the work is guaranteed.

Bringing in an experienced team means you can stop stressing about bats and feel confident that your home will stay secure this fall and beyond.

FAQ: Quick Answers for Homeowners

Are bats dangerous for my family or pets?

Yes, bats can carry rabies, so direct contact is risky. While most won’t attack, even a small scratch can be dangerous. It’s safest to avoid handling them and let a professional help.

Yes, bats can carry rabies, so direct contact is risky. While most won’t attack, even a small scratch can be dangerous. It’s safest to avoid handling them and let a professional help.

Entry points are often small cracks or gaps near rooflines, vents, or chimneys. Dark smudge marks around openings are a common clue.

Bats are protected in Iowa, and there are rules about when and how they can be removed. Using a licensed professional in Des Moines ensures everything is done legally and humanely.

Bats are more active at night and leave droppings near vents, while mice usually scratch during the day and chew wood. If you’re unsure, an inspection can confirm which pest you’re dealing with.

Bat droppings may release spores that trigger histoplasmosis, a lung infection caused by breathing in contaminated dust. Safe cleanup requires protective gear and professional handling.

No. Trapping bats indoors can harm them and won’t prevent re-entry. Exclusion devices are the humane way to let them leave without coming back.

Sometimes. A bat in your attic can accidentally end up in a bedroom or living room. If it happens more than once, it usually means there’s a colony nearby.

Yes. Bats usually revisit the same roosting spots year after year unless those entry points are sealed off. Once they’ve chosen your attic, they’ll likely come back unless entry points are sealed.

No. Bats don’t gnaw like mice or squirrels. The real damage comes from guano and urine, not chewing.

Bats are busiest in summer and early fall. As it gets colder, they seek warm roosts like attics to prepare for winter.

Close the room, open a window, and let it fly out. If you see bats more than once, call Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management to check for a colony.

Not reliably. Bats may avoid the noise for a while, but they often adapt. Exclusion and sealing remain the most effective long-term solution.

Lights may discourage bats short-term, but they won’t stop an infestation. They work best as a temporary measure alongside sealing and exclusion.

Pros remove bats humanely, seal every gap, and may suggest adding a bat house nearby as an alternative roost. This combination keeps bats out for good.

Yes. Each night, bats can consume large numbers of flying insects—everything from mosquitoes to moths that damage crops. That’s why humane exclusion is the preferred solution.

It has a sharp ammonia odor. If you notice the smell indoors, it often means urine and guano have built up in insulation or walls.

Some bats can squeeze through openings as small as half an inch. That’s why sealing even tiny cracks is critical for prevention.

Yes, bats can carry external parasites. While they rarely infest humans, they add to the health risks of having bats in your home.

Bat exclusion means letting bats leave safely and sealing entry points to keep them out. Pest control often means extermination, which is not legal or humane for bats.

Protect Your Home Before Winter Hits

As fall winds down, bats look for warm places to roost. Acting now means you won’t have to worry about noises in the attic, guano cleanup, or the stress of an infestation when winter arrives.

The good news is that prevention and professional help together can keep your home safe and comfortable.

Don’t wait until bats settle in—call Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management today to keep your Des Moines home protected this fall.

Our licensed, humane team knows how to seal entry points, remove bats safely, and give you peace of mind before the cold weather sets in.

Gene Spaulding Des Moines, IA Branch Operator
About the Author

Gene Spaulding, Owner and Founder of Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management, has been at the forefront of pest and wildlife control since 2008. With over 17 years of hands-on experience, Gene combines his expertise and passion to deliver effective and humane pest management solutions to homeowners and businesses across the Des Moines Metro area. Guided by the motto “Your Property, Our Priority,” Gene ensures that Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management remains a trusted partner for comprehensive pest and wildlife services.