Here’s What a 10+ Year Bat Infestation Looks Like
Bat infestations in Attics can persist for a long time… out of sight, out of mind
When we got a call from a homeowner in the Saline / Milan area they told us they’d been hearing noises above the upstairs bedrooms for years. At first, it was easy to dismiss as just the occasional critter. Once their kids left the nest for college and moved out of those rooms, the sounds were even easier to ignore.
But when our team stepped into the attic for the first time, it was immediately obvious: this was a full-blown bat colony that likely had been active for ten years or more. Somehow, a previous company misdiagnosed this as a rodent problem.
Here’s what we found…
What We Found
Dozens of live bats clinging to rafters (roughly 30)
Guano covering insulation and joists, with that unmistakable ammonia/urine smell
A few dead bats mixed into the mess
Rotted wood and gaps along the roofline (bat entry and exit points)
An infestation of this scale isn’t just unpleasant… it can be a health hazard. Guano can carry histoplasmosis spores, and the air in the attic is unsafe to breathe without proper protection. It was semi-miraculous that a bat colony of this size never made it into the living spaces.
That probably just speaks to how comfortable they were in this attic.
Why This Happens Even in Well Cared-For Homes
This particular situation was extreme, but not completely unusual either. Large homes with spacious attics in rural or suburban areas (which includes MANY Washtenaw and Wayne County communities) are prime real estate for bats.
And because bats don’t chew wires or gnaw wood like rodents, they’re easy to overlook.
Out of sight, out of mind. Even responsible homeowners can go years without realizing they’re sharing their attic with an active bat colony.
How We Evicted the Bats
Bat removal is all about thoughtful eviction and experienced, quality workmanship. Here’s how our process works:
STEP ONE: One-Way doors Installed
Special one-way tubes were placed over the entry points. These allow bats to leave, but not return. The install has to be done properly — bats are persistent, and experience matters.
STEP TWO: PLACE CAMERAS
We set up cameras at the main entry points to monitor nightly bat activity.
STEP THREE: Monitored Exit
Over the course of two-to-three weeks, we watched the video feeds to confirm that all live bats had vacated the attic.
STEP FOUR: Final Seal-Up
Once activity ceased, we removed the tubes and temporary foam, then patched the openings with color-matched metal so the repair blended seamlessly with the home.
Cleaning and Restoration
Of course, removing the bats was only half the job. The guano left behind made the attic unsafe. A separate remediation company was brought in to:
Remove contaminated insulation
Disinfect the attic
Replace insulation with fresh, clean material
The Takeaway
Today, this home is completely bat-free, sealed tight, and safe again.
If there’s one lesson here, it’s that bat infestations aren’t limited to neglected homes. They can (and frequently do) happen in well-maintained houses all across Southeast Michigan. Ignoring small noises or assuming it’s “just a mouse” can give bats the time they need to establish a colony.
At Community, we don’t just guess — we identify the real problem, evict pests, and seal homes so they can’t return.
