Integrated Pest Management in the Home: Has Your House Gone Batty? Facts about Bats
Shelly Johnson, LuAnn Duncan, Katherine Allen, Judy Corbus, Faith Oi, Karen Stauderman, , Nelly Nelson, andMaria Portelos-Rometo
Release Date: 2/8/2026
Natural Resources
Abstract
Are there bats in my house? Why? And what should I do about it? Bats are the only major predator of night-flying insects, which makes them an important part of our ecosystem. Occasionally, a single bat or group of bats find their way into a human-made structure. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Home series is intended to answer frequently asked questions, allay fears, and provide practical help to the public. All bats in Florida are protected, and it is important to seek assistance and follow state and federal laws. This publication provides information to educate homeowners on appropriate and lawful ways to deal with bats in buildings.
About this Publication
This document is WEC479, one of a series of the UF/IFAS Departments of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and Family, Youth, and Community Sciences. Original publication date February 2026. Visit the Ask IFAS website at https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. © 2026 UF/IFAS. This publication is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
How to Cite
Johnson, S. A., Duncan, L., Allen, K., Corbus, J., Oi, F., Stauderman, K., Marin, K., Nelson, N., & Portelos-Rometo, M. (2026). Integrated Pest Management in the Home Series: Has Your House Gone Batty? Facts about Bats. EDIS, 2026(1). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-uw548-2026






