Finding a bat in the house often triggers an understandable panic reaction, but the situation can be managed serenely with the right gestures. In Quebec, eight species of bats reside on the territory, and all are protected to varying degrees by the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife. This guide details the actions to be taken immediately, the pitfalls to avoid, the health status (including the risk of rabies), the legal framework surrounding the exclusion of a colony and the indicative costs for 2026 for a professional intervention. <\/p>\n\n
When a bat enters a room, it almost always looks for an exit. Close the door to the room and insulate the other rooms in the house. Open a window wide to the outside, turn off the interior lights and turn on the outside: bats are attracted to nocturnal insects near street lights. In 90% of cases, it comes out on its own in less than 30 minutes. Avoid chasing it with a broom or a racket: a direct blow can injure the protected animal and expose the skin to a possible bite. Never touch a bat with your bare hands, even if it appears dead. <\/p>\n\n
If the bat remains hanging on a wall or in a corner, you can capture it delicately with a rigid container (cardboard box, large mason jar) and a larger sheet of cardboard. Place the container on top of the animal, slide the cardboard between the wall and the opening, gently turn it over, then transport outside. Release near a tree, never on the ground: the bat needs height to fly. Wear thick leather or lined denim gloves. If direct contact has occurred (bite, skin contact or mucous membrane), call Info-Sant\u00e9 811 immediately and have the animal captured alive if possible for rabies analysis. <\/p>\n\n
Rabies is rare in bats in Quebec: between 0.4 and 0.7% of specimens tested annually by the Laboratoire de sant\u00e9 publique du Qu\u00e9bec are positive (2015-2024 data). However, the disease remains fatal without post-exposure prophylaxis. Any bite, scratch or direct skin contact with a bat must be reported to Info-Sant\u00e9 811. The capture of the live animal for analysis is strongly recommended: only laboratory analysis can exclude the risk of rabies with certainty. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is covered by public health in Quebec, and its effectiveness is nearly 100% if administered before the first symptoms. <\/p>\n\n
Situations that still require reporting include: bat found in a room where a person was sleeping without being able to confirm the absence of contact, bat found near a child or a person unable to testify to the contact, visible bite or scratch, direct contact with a dead or dying bat. In these cases, public health systematically recommends PEP in the absence of an analysis of the animal. Store the dead animal in a closed container in the refrigerator (not in the freezer, which destroys the viral RNA needed for analysis) and call 811 for instructions on how to get to the lab. <\/p>\n\n
A lone bat in the house almost always signals a wider entry point, often associated with a colony in the attic or soffits. Bats can squeeze through an opening of only 6 to 10 mm. Typical entry points are poorly jointed wood soffits, roof-wall junctions (especially at dormers), cracks in the stone walls of older buildings, grilleless ventilation ducts, plumbing vents, gaps around chimneys, and roof-to-flashing junctions. A twilight inspection (observation at the exit at sunset) remains the most reliable way to locate active entry points. <\/p>\n\n
| Location<\/th>\n | Immediate<\/th>\n action | Mandatory<\/th>\n call | Recommended action<\/th>\n<\/tr><\/thead>\n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bat in flight, no contact<\/td> | Isolate room, open window, wait None<\/td> | if no contact<\/td> | Attic inspection within 7 days<\/td><\/tr>\n |
| Bat on the ground or weakened<\/td> | Capture in container with thick gloves<\/td> | Info-Sant\u00e9 811 if contact<\/td> | Keep alive for analysis<\/td><\/tr>\n |
| Bite or scratch<\/td> | Wash wound with soap and water 15 min<\/td> | Info-Sant\u00e9 811 immediate<\/td> | PPE rabies management<\/td><\/tr>\n |
| Bat in room where we were sleeping<\/td> | Live capture of<\/td> | the Info-Sant\u00e9 specimen 811 even without apparent contact<\/td> | Rabies analysis recommended<\/td><\/tr>\n |
| Suspected colony in the attic<\/td> | Do not seal anything, do not disturb<\/td> | MFFP certified exterminator<\/td> | Exclusion supervised by LCMVF<\/td><\/tr>\n |
| Dead bat<\/td> | Handle with thick 811 gloves<\/td> | if skin contact<\/td> | Keep cool for analysis<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\nLegal framework: what you can’t do yourself<\/h2>\n\nIn Quebec, the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife (LCMVF) prohibits the killing, capture or disturbance of bats without regulated methods. Section 26 provides for fines ranging from $250 to $5,750 for an individual who deliberately kills a bat. The Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) and Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) have also been designated as endangered by COSEWIC since 2014, adding a layer of federal protection. The exclusion of a colony installed in a house is legal and encouraged, but it must be done exclusively by non-lethal method (unidirectional exclusion cones) and imperatively outside the calving period (mid-May to mid-August in Quebec). <\/p>\n\n Indicative costs 2026 for a professional intervention<\/h2>\n\nFor an isolated bat captured and released by an exterminator, count between $175 and $285 depending on availability (emergency or standard appointment). For a complete attic and soffit inspection with report, count $285 to $450. For a complete exclusion of a residential colony with cone installation, sealing and warranty, count $1,200 to $3,800 depending on the size of the house. Decontamination of the attic after leaving the colony (histoplasmosis risk) costs an additional $1,500 to $3,500. Many home insurance policies cover these costs under the heading of vermin damage: keep the invoices and the intervention report. To learn more about the health risks associated with bat droppings, check out our dedicated article on this subject. <\/p>\n\n FAQs: Frequently asked questions about bats in the home<\/h2>\n\n |