Do you have SC bats in your home? Here’s how to know and what to do if you have them

Patrick McCreless
·3 min read

Bats have long had an undeserved bad reputation.

The world’s only true flying mammals have often been feared by many for centuries through legends, stories, movies and television shows that associate them with vampires and evil places. They’re also accused of being big spreaders of rabies — although, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most don’t carry the disease.

In truth, bats are vital parts of the ecosystem in South Carolina and elsewhere. Still, they are also wild animals and an attic, shed or other human structure are likely not the most ideal places for them to live.

Here’s what to know about bats in South Carolina and how to protect yourself, pets and the bats if you encounter them on your property.

Bats in SC

There are 14 species of bats that live in South Carolina, all of which are nocturnal and feed only on insects, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. However, only half of those are colonial cavity roosting species, meaning they form large groups, sometimes in human dwellings. And of those colonial species, most cases of nuisance or unwanted bats in buildings can be attributed to four species:

  • The free-tailed bat

  • The big brown bat

  • The tri-colored bat

  • The evening bat

The DNR notes that if you live in the mountains of South Carolina, there are several other, rarer bat species that might use your home.

Free-tailed bats form the largest colonies in the state by far. Their numbers at a single site can range from a few bats to thousands, DNR states.

What do if SC bats are on your property

  • Try not to panic. Less than 1% of natural bat populations have rabies, according to South Carolina Wild, the official blog of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. If you do find a bat in your living space, safely contain it and call the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to determine if there have been any exposures and to have the bat tested for rabies if necessary.

  • Determine where the bats are entering or leaving the home or structure. If they are in your attic or walls, make sure they can’t get into your living space. There will be evidence of where bats are entering, such as brown markings rubbed onto surface holes or gaps in the structure. Droppings, called guano, will accumulate under the major entry points. You can also hire an experienced wildlife control operator to identify points of entry for you. To find an expert, click here.

  • The only effective way to remove bats from a structure is by exclusion, DNR states. Exclusion is achieved by placing one-way exits on all of the major entry points for bats, as well as sealing any other potential entry points. However, homeowners should try to avoid exclusion efforts from May to at least mid-July, which is the period when bats have their babies, called pups. Exclusion will trap the flightless pups, which will hurt the bats and cause more problems for you later.

Why you shouldn’t kill SC bats

South Carolina bats prey on many of the more pesky insects in the state. They suppress nocturnal insect populations, including crop and forest pests, reducing the need for costly pesticides. Bats save South Carolina’s agricultural industry more than $115 million each year and a total of $22.9 billion for the U.S. annually, DNR states.

Bats also indirectly suppress pest-related fungus and the toxic compounds they produce in corn.