Big Brown Bats:
Setting the Record Straight
Myth: Bats frequently carry rabies.
Truth: Only a very small percentage of bats carry rabies. Like most mammals, the chance of any individual bat being infected is roughly 1 in 500 to 1 in 1,000. Healthy bats play no role in spreading the disease.
Myth: Bats fly into people’s hair.
Truth: Bats may swoop nearby only because they are chasing insects. Their finely tuned echolocation allows them to detect tiny flying prey while easily avoiding obstacles—including people.
Myth: Bats are blind.
Truth: Big brown bats have good eyesight that works alongside their echolocation, helping them navigate and hunt effectively both at dusk and in darkness.
Myth: Bats are pests.
Truth: Bats enter human structures due to habitat loss, not aggression or nuisance behavior. They play vital roles in balancing ecosystems and providing natural pest control.
Relocating Injured or Problem Bats
Found an injured bat?
Never handle a bat with bare hands. Contact the Iowa DNR or Iowa Wildlife Center to reach a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Keep the bat in a quiet, dark place until professional help arrives.
Bat in your living area?
Stay calm. If it’s warm outside, open a window or door and move away from the opening. The bat will usually find the exit on its own. If the weather is cold, the bat cannot survive outdoors. Close doors to contain it in one room. Once it lands, put on thick gloves, gently place a small ventilated container (like a cottage cheese tub with air holes) over the bat, and slide a piece of cardboard underneath. Secure the lid and contact the Iowa DNR or Iowa Wildlife Center for guidance on next steps.
Bats in your attic or building?
Avoid disturbing bats between May and mid-August when pups are too young to fly. According to biologist Stephanie Shepherd, fall is the best time for removal, when young bats can fly and find new roosts before winter. Use humane exclusion devices—such as one-way “bat valves” to allow bats to leave safely while preventing reentry. After they are gone, seal openings with caulk, weatherproof mesh, or flashing. Providing an alternative roost nearby, such as a bat house from Bat World Sanctuary, helps relocate colonies without harm. For step-by-step exclusion guidance, visit Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Works Cited
"Bats in Iowa." Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, 1 Mar. 2019, naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/wildlife/bats-iowa#:~:text=Fungal%20growth%20on%20hairless%20nose,recover%20and%20raise%20their%20young.
"Bats: Damage Management." Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, 1 Mar. 2019, naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/wildlife/bats-around-and-home.
Frank, Eyal G. "The economic impacts of ecosystem disruptions: Costs from substituting biological pest control." Science, 6 Sept. 2024, www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adg0344#:~:text=The%20compensatory%20increase%20in%20insecticide,can%20have%20meaningful%20social%20costs.
Frick, Winifred. "The Invisible Mammal." Land Ethic Live, 9 Oct. 2025, Aldo Leopold Foundation. Lecture.
Shepherd, Stephanie. Zoom Interview. 30 Sept. 2025.