What attracts bats to my house?

What attracts bats to your house includes shelter, warmth, and abundant food, particularly if your house offers dark, quiet roosting sites and your yard has many night-flying insects. Bats are attracted to houses that have entry points like gaps larger than a quarter inch around rooflines, soffits, vents, chimneys, and fascia boards, because they seek warm, dark, quiet places to roost during the day and to raise pups in spring and summer, and attics that are warm, undisturbed, and have little light are ideal. They are attracted to yards with lots of insects, which are their primary food, so properties near water, forests, and gardens with many mosquitoes, moths, and beetles are more attractive, and outdoor lights that attract insects can indirectly attract bats that hunt around lights at dusk. They are also attracted to houses near caves, trees with cavities, and water sources. In fall, bats may be attracted to houses that offer stable temperatures for hibernation. Signs that bats are attracted include droppings called guano near entry points, oily rub marks around holes, and chirping sounds at dusk. To keep bats outside while still benefiting from their insect control, seal entry holes with caulk and hardware cloth, install a bat house on a pole away from your house to give them an alternative roost, and reduce insect-attracting lights near entry points while leaving some dark areas for hunting.