Bats in Your House During the Fall
Fall Bat Activity
As Fall approaches, in mid-September, big brown bats start to migrate to their hibernating areas. Sometimes this area is the same home that they raised their young all summer, other times they move to a more suitable home down the street.
Cool nights with low insect activity is the primary driving force that starts the migration. Some of these migrations are very short - and may be only a few miles from their summer homes. Big Brown bats do not need to travel far, since this species prefers to hibernate above ground in homes and dams. There is no reason for them to spend their precious energy (fat reserves) flying a long distance - when there are plenty of local hibernation areas nearby. Fall Big Brown Bats are healthy, plump and ready to take a nap!
Their activity tends to slow down during the month of October, but they have been known to fly in November during a warm up in the weather.
Why do Big Brown bats hibernate in attics?
Attics that are around 35-40 degrees are ideal hibernation areas, because they allow the bats to reduce their metabolic processes for hibernation, but do not cause them to freeze.
If you have signs of bat activity in your attic, then you need to have a bat exclusion completed. Time is of the essence. Once the bats begin their hibernation, then they will be inside the attic until Spring.