Bat Removal in Lake in the Hills, IL
Older homes with additions and 1990s builds both get bats. Bat removal in Lake in the Hills means finding their gaps, watching where a colony exits at dusk, and knowing the species and the legal dates before anything is sealed.
Older Additions to 1990s Rooflines: Where Bats Get In
Most Lake in the Hills homes date from 1990 to 2009, but about one in twelve is older than 1970. Village history notes that some early summer homes were later altered and enlarged. Additions often leave seams where new siding or trim meets old, and siding or edge boards that aren’t sealed are a known bat entry.
Newer homes get bats too. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) says bat-proofing should cover gaps as small as ¼ inch by 1½ inches, at the roof, eaves, dormers, gables, chimney, vents and siding. On a house with bats, those gaps are sealed only after the bats are confirmed out.
Is It a Colony? What to Look For, and a Dusk Watch
Attic insulation usually muffles bats, IDNR notes, so you often won’t know they’re there until you see them.
Outside, look for rub marks at the edges of small gaps: polished, slightly sticky, yellow-brown to nearly black. Spotting on siding and windows below an exit is another sign. A long-standing colony smells musty and sharp.
Then try IDNR’s dusk watch. From about half an hour before sunset until dark, note where bats come out. Leave those gaps open. Plugging one can trap bats inside, pups included.
Which Bat, and When It May Leave
Every Illinois bat is protected, and the species shapes the plan. The federally endangered northern long-eared bat can roost in buildings, so we identify the species before any work starts.
IDNR’s first advice is to let a colony stay for the season if possible. Otherwise, Illinois allows eviction from March 15 to May 15 and August 5 to October 30, only when dusk is forecast above 50°F two nights in a row. In fall, the operator must also make a reasonable check that the young can fly. From May 16 to August 4, flightless pups are in the roost, so routine eviction waits.
When the timing is right, one-way devices go on, and every entry is sealed once the roost is empty, under a written warranty. See bat remediation for each step, bat in the house if one is loose inside, or Lake in the Hills wildlife removal for anything that isn’t a bat.
Lake in the Hills Bat Questions
A bat turned up in our child’s bedroom. Can we just let it out the window?
Not if your child was asleep, alone with it, or may have touched it. Bites can go unnoticed, so the bat should be tested. McHenry County says to close the door, put a towel under it, and call Animal Control at (815) 459-6222. Keep the bat’s head intact, and call your doctor. If no one slept near it or touched it, Illinois allows letting it out a window or outside door. A lone bat in the living space can be removed any day of the year.
Have rabid bats actually been found in Lake in the Hills?
Yes. The Northwest Herald reported a rabid bat found in Lake in the Hills in June 2023. Rabid bats turn up in McHenry County most years, some inside homes. Most bats are not infected, and only a lab test can tell. Still, in state health data from 2006 through fall 2026, the only wild animals in Illinois to test positive for rabies were bats.
We found droppings under a gable vent. Are they from bats or birds?
Bat droppings are small, dark and segmented, and they crumble to powder with shiny bits. Bird droppings usually have a white, chalky part; bat droppings never do. Don’t handle either kind barehanded. A free inspection can confirm which animal left them.
Bats are still flying around the house in late fall. Can they still be sealed out?
Through October 30, yes, on evenings that meet the 50°F rule and once the young can fly. After that, eviction normally waits for March 15. Big brown bats may winter in a building; little brown bats leave for caves or mines. Sealing secondary gaps while the main entry stays open is legal year-round, so a fall inspection still sets the plan.
Know Your Bat Before Anything Gets Sealed
Our IL DNR-permitted Hampshire team’s free on-site inspection names the bat and the dates. Exclusion carries a written warranty.
Related & Nearby
Bat law, a loose bat indoors and other wildlife in Lake in the Hills and surrounding areas.