How Do Bats Get in My Attic? Exploring Common Entry Points

How Do Bats Get in My Attic? Exploring Common Entry Points

Discovering bats in your attic can be a surprising and unsettling experience. While these nocturnal creatures are fascinating from a distance, having them take up residence in your home can pose various challenges. Understanding how bats gain access to your attic is the first step toward addressing the issue effectively. Bats are commonly found in attics in roofs all over california.  If you want to look around and see if bats are living in your attic, these are common entry points that bats use to infiltrate attics around Truckee, and Tahoe: Roof Returns, Gable Vents, and Construction Gapping along the eave line or freeze blocks.

1. Roof Returns: Sneaky Ingress through Corners

Roof returns, also known as soffit returns and roof to soffit junction, are vulnerable points where bats often find their way into attics. These are the sections of the house where one roofline meets another.  Often times the siding, whether it be wood or vinyl does not meet up with the roof. Bats can exploit small gaps or openings along these edges, using them as entry points to access the attic space

The design of roof returns, with their overhanging eaves and intersecting angles, can create hidden openings that may go unnoticed by homeowners. Bats, with their ability to squeeze through remarkably small gaps, can exploit even minor cracks or crevices in these areas, gaining entry into the attic without detection. It may be hard for you to safely see and access these bat entry points especially on your home especially in Truckee as roofs are steep to prevent snow load.

To prevent bats from using roof returns as entry points, homeowners should conduct regular inspections of their rooflines, paying close attention to any signs of weather damage, animal damage, or normal construction gaps. Sealing off potential entry points with appropriate materials, such as an metal or an appropriate construction sealant, can effectively deter bats from accessing the attic through roof returns.

2. Gable Vents: Inviting Entryways for Unwanted Guests

Gable vents, typically installed on the exterior walls of attics to promote ventilation, can inadvertently provide bats with easy access to attic spaces. These vents, characterized by their louvered or slatted design, allow air to circulate freely while providing an ideal entry point for bats seeking shelter.

Bats can exploit gaps or openings around gable vents, squeezing through the slats or accessing the attic through damaged or deteriorating vent covers. Once inside, they may establish roosting sites and create colonies, posing potential health risks and structural damage to the property. Often times bats will use these gable vents as summer bat boxes, leaving droppins and urine down your home.  In Truckee there are many species of rodents, squirrels, woodpeckers and chipmunks that often chew open screens allowing bats to freely enter. 

To prevent bats from entering through gable vents, we install protective screens or mesh covers over the openings. These barriers allow for adequate ventilation while effectively blocking access to bats and other unwanted pests. Regular maintenance and inspection of gable vents are also essential to identify and address any signs of damage or deterioration promptly.

3. Construction Gapping along the Eavline or Freeze Blocks: Hidden Ingress Points

 Although less conspicuous than roof returns or gable vents, Construction gapping along the eaveline, between freeze blocks, and in between logs can serve as stealthy entry points for bats seeking refuge in attics. These areas, where the exterior walls of a house meet the roofline or foundation, may contain gaps or spaces that bats can exploit to gain access to the attic.

During the construction or aging process of a home, gaps or openings may develop along the eave line or freeze blocks due to settling, shrinkage, or wear. Bats can take advantage of these hidden entry points, slipping into the attic unnoticed and establishing roosting sites within the confines of the structure.

To address construction gapping along the eave line or freeze blocks, homeowners should conduct thorough inspections of their property, focusing on areas where the roofline meets the walls or foundation. Sealing off any gaps or openings with appropriate materials, such as log caulking, chinking,  or weatherstripping, can help prevent bats from infiltrating the attic and minimize the risk of infestation.

Bats can gain access to attics through various entry points, and this is only a small partial list of common entry points. Our technicians are trained to regularly look for over 70 common bat and wildlife entry points, ensuring a thorough job every time.