People often mistake the bat’s methodology with the one of a rodent. A bat won't gnaw through wood or other building materials, even though it might try to scratch, which won’t really be effective.

With that in mind, there is a variety of different materials that are suitable and effective when it comes to bat exclusion such as stainless steel wool, steel rustproof, weather-stripping and etc. as they are able to block cracks in the building, granting them access to your property.

Caulking the Building

Exclusion serves two purposes – keeping a bat that has already set roost in your attic away from its home, forcing it to another place or simply preventing it from ever coming in and accomplishing the latter. One of the most efficient methods is to caulk all possible entrances.

As the building ages, cracks open up and the wildlife will certainly try to take advantage of it. The logical conclusion would be to seal all possible entrances to prevent it from happening.

Wood, for example, can expand and contract depending on the weather, thus it would make the most sense to apply the caulking during dry, hot periods when the cracks would be spread the widest. Depending on the type of crack, you could use different materials. Oakum fiber, for example, is perfect to cover up small cracks as it is easily applicable. Other popular materials for caulking are rubber, cotton, sponge, glass fiber and putty.

Depending on the type of caulk, you could also set up other caulking materials through the utilization of a caulking gun. The durability of latex, for example, is around five years, making it a semi long term solution to your issues. There are those that last indefinitely, however, cost the most – silicon and polysulphide based rubbers, for example.

Flashing

The areas where walls meet the roof or a chimney, for example, should be protected to keep them bat-proof. The “flashing” method consists of metals which cover holes and cracks. The most commonly used metals are copper, stainless steel and aluminum, as they are meant to sustain through the harshest weather conditions. Furthermore, these devices will also keep your property waterproof during storms.

Weather Stripping

The idea is to cover the open space between a door and a floor, as it is one of the most common entry locations for bats. There’s a huge diversity in materials which could be utilized for the purpose including aluminum, hard rubber, nylon, natural fibers, felt and etc. The most efficient way would be to set a nylon strip brush barrier in a galvanized steel channel. Not only does it keep bats, insects, and rodents out, but it also reduces the heat loss from inside the room.

There is a large variety of options, methods, and materials a person could use when trying to prevent bats from entering his property, if you’re a beginner we suggest you consult with a professional, in order to ensure the safety of both the bats and yourself.

Read the How to get rid of bats page for helpful information and to learn more about What is the Best Material to Exclude Bats?