- Size
- Most UK bats weigh less than a £1 coin
- Droppings
- 4–8 mm, crumble to dust
- Active
- Leave at dusk, return before dawn
- Peak season
- May to September; hibernate in winter
All UK bats and their roosts are protected by law, even when the bats are away. That means the usual pest control options don't apply. The right step is advice, not removal.
Signs of bats
- Droppings piled under a roof entry point or stuck to walls and windows
- Droppings that crumble to dry powder with shiny insect fragments
- Small bats leaving one by one shortly after sunset
- Faint squeaking or chattering near the eaves at dusk
- Dark marks around a small gap at the roofline
How to be sure
Bat droppings look like mouse droppings but crumble to dust when crushed, while mouse droppings are hard. Bats come and go at dusk and dawn, while birds are active in daylight and rodents through the night.
What you can do yourself
- Leave the area undisturbed. Don't block gaps, spray, or move things near where they roost.
- Watch at dusk from outside to see where they emerge. It helps advisers understand your situation.
- Contact the Bat Conservation Trust's National Bat Helpline for free advice, especially if you're worried about droppings or noise.
- If you're planning roof, loft or building work, get advice before you start. You may need a bat survey and a licence.
- If a bat is in a room, close internal doors, open the windows wide after dark and turn off the lights. It will usually find its own way out.
Call a professional if
- Only bat specialists and ecologists. Standard pest control isn't legal for bats
- Call the National Bat Helpline if you find a grounded or injured bat
- Use a licensed ecologist for surveys before building work
The law: All UK bat species and their roosts are protected. It's an offence to deliberately kill, injure or disturb a bat, or to damage or obstruct access to a roost, even when bats aren't present. Building or roofing work that affects a roost may need a licence from Natural England, Natural Resources Wales or NatureScot.
Safety: A small number of UK bats carry a rabies-like virus. Never handle a bat with bare hands. If you're bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and water and get medical advice the same day.
Keeping them out
- Not applicable. Bats can't legally be excluded from an existing roost without a licence
Kit that helps
- Torch for a dusk emergence watch
- Thick gloves (only if you must contain a grounded bat)
Product types only. We'll only ever point you to things we'd use ourselves.
Questions people ask
Can I get bats removed from my loft?
Not in the usual sense. Bats and their roosts are protected, and exclusion needs a licence. Free advice from the National Bat Helpline is the place to start.
Do bats damage houses?
Very rarely. They don't gnaw, nest or chew wiring. Droppings can build up but are dry and easy to clean.
Are bat droppings dangerous?
They're low risk compared with rodent droppings. Wear gloves and a dust mask when clearing them, and don't handle bats themselves.
I'm having my roof redone. What do I need to do?
Get advice before work starts. If bats use the roof, you may need a survey and a licence, and timing work outside the breeding and hibernation seasons can help.