Keep the many kinds of SC Lowcountry bats out of your home with these tips
If you’ve ever heard strange rustling in the palmetto trees at night or noticed something fluttering among the Spanish moss, you’re not alone.
These strange noises, typically heard during the late evening or early morning hours, are likely indicators that you may be closer to a bat than you think.
One of the many creatures found in the South Carolina Lowcountry, bats are most active from dusk until just before dawn, quietly soaring through the night in search of insects. While they can be spotted year-round, mid-June to November is when residents and visitors may be able to catch a glimpse.
Here’s everything to know about these critters and where they live in the Lowcountry region.
What kind of bats live in SC?
South Carolina is home to 15 bat species, all of which are insectivores.
Their presence helps suppress mosquito populations and reduce the need for chemical pesticides, saving the state’s agriculture industry over $115 million annually, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
These are all of the species seen in South Carolina:
- Big brown bat
- Brazilian free-tailed bat
- Eastern red bat
- Eastern small-footed bat
- Evening bat
- Gray bat
- Hoary bat
- Little brown bat
- Northern long-eared bat
- Northern yellow bat
- Rafinesque’s big-eared bat
- Silver-haired bat
- Southeastern bat
- Seminole bat
- Tricolored bat
Which ones live in the Lowcountry and coastal region?
The Lowcountry and coastal region of South Carolina is home to a high diversity of bat species.
Some of the common species you may see and their preferred habitats include:
- The Northern yellow bat often roosts in Spanish moss and palm fronds.
- Rafinesque’s big-eared bat prefers bottomland hardwood forests and areas near water.
- Southeastern bats prefer swampy forests and streams along with trees like cypress and willow oaks.
- Seminole bats are known for roosting in Spanish moss.
- Evening bats are often found along waterways and prefer forests, swamps, and wetlands.
- Big brown bats enjoy more forest and wooded areas.
- Brazilian free-tailed bats are drawn to forest areas, shrubs and urban areas.
- The Hoary bat has a wide range and can be found almost anywhere, but commonly in pine forests.
- Silver-haired bats are not often seen in the Lowcountry during the summer due to migration patterns, but they do prefer to roost in trees adjacent to water.
- Tricolored bats prefer forested landscapes, often in open woods and are found over water or adjacent to water edges.
- Northern long-eared bats are rare to see along the coast, but they opt to roost in mature forests or near streams.
What about the risk of rabies?
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Health, while most bats do not carry rabies, they are still one of the species known to transmit the virus.
In South Carolina, confirmed rabies cases are most commonly found in raccoons, followed by skunks, foxes and bats.
In Beaufort County, there were only two confirmed rabies cases in 2024 — both from raccoons — but vigilance is still important.
The SCDPH defines exposure to rabies as direct contact (such as through broken skin or contact of the eyes, nose or mouth) with saliva or other bodily fluids from an infected animal.
Here’s what to do if you are concerned about rabies risk:
A rabid bat may not look or act sick. If you find a bat indoors, especially in bedrooms or spaces where children or pets have been unsupervised, it’s crucial to assume possible exposure.
Rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms begin, but it is preventable if action is taken promptly.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends:
- If you’ve been bitten, immediately and thoroughly clean all bite wounds.
- Visit a medical professional for vaccination: Unvaccinated individuals should receive both a Human Rabies Immune Globulin and a 4-dose vaccine series.
- Previously vaccinated individuals need only two vaccine doses, given three days apart.
How to keep bats out of your home
To prevent bats from roosting in your home, the SCDPH recommends these steps:
- Inspect your home for any small holes and seal them. Bats can enter through openings as small as ¼ inch by ½ inch.
- Seal electrical and plumbing holes.
- Ensure all outside doors close tightly.
- Cover attic entry points and vents.
- If your home has terracotta roofing tiles, seal each gap created by the barrel shape, as these are common roosting spots.
Environmental impact of bats
The SCDNR states that bats feed on crop and forest pests, which helps maintain ecological balance.
Since South Carolina’s bat species prefer to eat insects, they help prevent fungal growth in corn and reduce the impact of pesticides on other wildlife. In addition, their nightly feeding habits provide natural pest control.
While these critters may cause some strange noises, they are typically harmless when left undisturbed.
If you have issues with a bat in your home, the SCDPH recommends contacting a local animal control officer, wildlife control officer or wildlife rehabilitator.
