Humane Bat Exclusion & Removal Services in Arizona
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Protecting Your Property While Respecting Nature’s Pest Control
Humane Bat Prevention and Exclusion Services in Arizona
To be fair, bats are an ally when wanting to fight mosquito pressure and other flying insects that may harm agriculture. Further, bats are important pollinators of plants and crops. So we are not generally aiming to eliminate bats, but we do want to prevent them from inhabiting areas in which we live and work.
Keep Your Home and Business Clean, Safe, and Free from Bat-Related Damage
We tend not to worry about being bitten by bats and the chance a bat is carrying rabies is extremely low. However, bat droppings can carry disease and make quite a mess. We have a lot of stucco here in Arizona, and that stucco can be stained by the highly acidic nature of bat excrement. Bat droppings can also accumulate beneath areas where they perch making a mess on our patios that can be mistaken for rodent droppings.
Contact us to discuss options in preventing bats from taking up residence on your home or office.
Safeguard Your Home and Business from Bat Droppings and Damage
a Free Inspection
Bat Removal & Exclusion in Fountain Hills, Scottsdale & the East Valley
Arizona is home to 28 bat species — more than almost any other state in the country. While bats play a vital role in controlling mosquitoes and insects across the desert, they become a serious problem when they establish a roost inside your home. At Cummings Termite & Pest, we have been handling bat exclusions for homeowners throughout Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Rio Verde since 1972. When bats move in, we know exactly how to move them out — safely, legally, and permanently.
Arizona Bat Species Most Likely to Roost in Your Home
The three species homeowners in the East Valley encounter most often are the Mexican free-tailed bat, the big brown bat, and the pallid bat.
The Mexican free-tailed bat is by far the most common. Colonies can number in the thousands and favor the tight gaps found behind fascia boards, inside attic spaces, and along roofline eaves. The big brown bat tends to roost in smaller groups but is strongly attracted to the consistent temperatures inside attics and wall voids. The pallid bat, one of Arizona’s more unusual species, hunts scorpions and ground insects and typically roosts in rock crevices and building openings in the desert foothills — a pattern you see regularly in Fountain Hills and Rio Verde properties backing up to undeveloped terrain.
Why Bats Enter Homes in the East Valley
Arizona’s extreme summer heat is the primary driver. When daytime temperatures in the Phoenix metro push past 110 degrees, the interior of an attic becomes an appealing refuge for a bat seeking a stable, warm space to roost and raise young. Monsoon season compounds the problem: strong storm winds and moisture drive bats to seek shelter, and any gap wider than three-eighths of an inch in your roofline, chimney cap, or soffit is an open invitation.
Common entry points include gaps where roof tiles meet fascia, deteriorated chimney flashing, unscreened gable vents, and openings around utility penetrations. Once a colony establishes itself, the accumulated guano and urine mark the site as a roost — meaning new bats will return year after year unless the structure is properly sealed.
Health Risks from Bat Roosting
The two primary health concerns with bat infestations are histoplasmosis and rabies exposure.
Histoplasmosis is a fungal respiratory infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus that grows in accumulated bat guano. When dried droppings are disturbed — during an attic inspection, renovation, or HVAC service call — spores become airborne and can be inhaled. Symptoms range from mild flu-like illness to serious pulmonary complications, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Rabies is the second concern. Arizona does record bat-associated rabies cases, and a bat found inside a living space — especially one that has had contact with a sleeping person or a pet — warrants immediate evaluation. If you have found a bat inside your home, do not handle it. Contact us and, if there is any possibility of exposure, contact Maricopa County Public Health.
The Exclusion Process: How We Remove Bats Without Harming Them
Under Arizona law, bats are protected wildlife, and extermination is both illegal and ineffective. The correct approach is humane exclusion — a process that allows bats to leave on their own but prevents re-entry.
Our exclusion work follows a strict sequence:
Inspection and Entry Point Mapping
We conduct a thorough exterior inspection at dusk, when bats emerge to feed. This lets us observe exactly where the colony is exiting, map every potential entry point, and assess the size and species of the colony.
Timing Around Maternity Season
In Arizona, bat maternity season typically runs from April through mid-August. During this period, pups are too young to fly and cannot exit through exclusion devices. Sealing a structure during maternity season traps juveniles inside, which is inhumane, illegal, and creates a severe odor problem. We schedule exclusions accordingly — most East Valley work is performed from late August through early spring.
One-Way Exclusion Devices
Once the timing is right, we install one-way exclusion tubes or netting over active exit points. Bats can push out through the device to feed but cannot re-enter. After 3 to 5 days — long enough to confirm the colony has fully vacated — we remove the devices and permanently seal every entry point with professional-grade materials.
Guano Remediation
Where guano accumulation is significant, we recommend professional cleanup and sanitization. This step is critical to eliminate the histoplasmosis risk and the odor that attracts future bat activity.
Signs You Have a Bat Problem
Call us if you notice any of the following: a musty ammonia odor coming from your attic or walls, scratching or rustling sounds at dusk or before dawn, bat droppings (small, dark, and elongated — similar to mouse droppings but they crumble to a powder when crushed), or bats visible flying out from under your eaves at dusk. A single bat inside your living space warrants an immediate inspection to determine whether a colony is present.
Do not wait. A small roost that goes unaddressed through one monsoon season can expand into a colony of hundreds by the following summer.
Schedule a Free Bat Inspection
Cummings Termite & Pest has been protecting East Valley homes from pest wildlife since 1972. Our technicians know Arizona bat behavior, the local seasonality, and exactly what it takes to resolve an infestation permanently. If you suspect bats in your home, call us at (480) 994-9599 for a free inspection. We serve Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Rio Verde.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of bats are found in the Scottsdale and East Valley area? +
Arizona is home to 28 bat species, more than almost any other state. In the East Valley, the species most commonly found roosting in homes and buildings are the Mexican free-tailed bat, the big brown bat, and the pallid bat. These bats are drawn to the attics, eaves, and wall voids of homes in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Paradise Valley, and Rio Verde because these spaces mimic the caves and crevices they naturally prefer.
Are bats dangerous to have in my home? +
While bats themselves are generally not aggressive, their presence in your home poses real health risks. Bat droppings (guano) can harbor a fungus that causes histoplasmosis, a respiratory illness. Bats are also the most common carriers of rabies in Arizona. Additionally, accumulated guano and urine can damage insulation, drywall, and create strong, persistent odors. If you suspect bats in your attic or walls, contact Cummings Pest Control for a professional assessment.
I found a bat inside my house. What should I do? +
Do not touch the bat with your bare hands. If no one has been bitten or had direct contact, close the doors to the room, open a window or exterior door, and the bat will usually find its way out at dusk. If anyone has been bitten or scratched, or if the bat was found in a room with a sleeping person, capture it without direct contact (using a container and cardboard) and contact Maricopa County Environmental Services for rabies testing. Then call Cummings Pest Control to inspect your home for entry points.
Is it legal to kill bats in Arizona? +
All bat species in Arizona are protected by state law. It is illegal to intentionally kill bats. Removal must be done through exclusion — allowing bats to leave on their own and then sealing entry points so they cannot return. Cummings Pest Control uses humane exclusion methods that comply fully with Arizona wildlife regulations.
How does Cummings Pest Control remove bats from a home? +
We use a process called exclusion. Our technicians inspect your home to identify all entry and exit points bats are using. We then install one-way exclusion devices that allow bats to leave at dusk but prevent them from re-entering. Once all bats have departed, we permanently seal every opening. This process is humane, legal, and highly effective. We also address guano cleanup and sanitization when needed.
When is the best time to exclude bats from my house? +
The best time for bat exclusion in Arizona is during the spring (March to mid-April) before maternity colonies form, or in the fall (September to October) after young bats are fully mobile. During the summer maternity season (mid-April through August), flightless baby bats may be present, and exclusion during this period can trap them inside, which is both inhumane and creates additional problems. Cummings Pest Control will time your exclusion appropriately.
How do I know if bats are living in my attic? +
Common signs include hearing scratching or squeaking sounds at dusk and dawn, finding small dark droppings (similar to mouse droppings but crumblier) near your roofline or in the attic, noticing a strong musty odor, and seeing bats flying to or from a specific area of your home at sunset. Staining around entry points from body oils is another telltale sign. Cummings Pest Control can perform a thorough inspection to confirm bat activity.
Will bats come back after exclusion? +
Bats have strong site fidelity and will try to return to previous roosts. That is why thorough sealing of all entry points is critical after exclusion. Cummings Pest Control inspects your entire roofline, eaves, fascia, vents, and any other potential openings. When exclusion is done properly, bats cannot re-enter. We stand behind our work and will address any issues that arise.
Can bat guano make my family sick? +
Yes. Accumulated bat guano can harbor the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which causes histoplasmosis when spores are inhaled. This is a serious respiratory infection that can be particularly dangerous for children, elderly individuals, and people with weakened immune systems. Guano should never be disturbed or cleaned up without proper protective equipment. Cummings Pest Control offers professional guano removal and attic sanitization services.
How much does bat removal cost in the East Valley? +
The cost of bat exclusion depends on the size of your home, the number and location of entry points, and whether guano cleanup is needed. Cummings Pest Control provides free inspections and detailed quotes so you know exactly what to expect. Bat exclusion is an investment that protects your health and your property — the longer bats remain, the more damage they cause and the more expensive remediation becomes.