Billings · Yellowstone County
Bat removal in Billings, Montana
Humane bat exclusion along the Yellowstone River and the Rims.
Bats and Billings homes
Billings is Montana's largest city, set along the Yellowstone River beneath the sandstone Rimrocks. Half of its homes were built before 1980, and that mix of mid-century neighborhoods, older brick downtown buildings, and newer West End construction gives bats plenty of ways in — loose fascia, gable vents, chimney flashing, and settled siding.
Local bats & habitat
Montana has 15 confirmed bat species. The two most tied to buildings are the little brown myotis — the most common bat in the state — and the big brown bat, which readily uses attics, walls, and other man-made structures. Both are found across Montana. In Billings, the Yellowstone River corridor and its cottonwood bottoms are productive insect-foraging ground close to homes.
Billings animal control & health contacts
Public agencies — not us. Call them for an animal emergency, a possible exposure, or rabies testing.
City of Billings Animal Control (Billings Police Department)
Animal control inside Billings city limits, including wildlife loose in the city
Email bas@billingsmt.gov. Operates as part of the Billings Police Department.
Source ↗RiverStone Health
Yellowstone County's public health agency — call about possible bat exposures and rabies testing
Main line; also the published number for after-hours urgent needs and public health emergencies. 123 South 27th Street, Billings.
Source ↗Bat contacts are up in Yellowstone County
In September 2026, KTVQ reported that RiverStone Health had tracked 11 bat incidents in Yellowstone County that year — 8 involving human contact, about double the prior year — and that 13 bats had tested positive for rabies in Montana so far in 2026.
KTVQ (Sept 2026) — Yellowstone County sees uptick in human interaction with bats ↗Billings housing stock
Roughly half of Billings housing units were built before 1980 and about a quarter before 1960. On homes of that age we pay extra attention to fascia and soffit joints, ridge and gable vents, and the gaps where additions meet the original roofline.
- Housing units
- about 54,300
- Median year built
- 1980
- Built before 1980
- about 50%
- Built before 1960
- about 26%
Built before 1940: about 6%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates (see sources).
When bats can be excluded in Billings
The same statewide FWP timing applies here. See how our exclusion process works or the Montana bat guide.
Apr–Aug
Maternity season — no exclusion
FWP: never exclude bats May through August, when flightless young may be inside. FWP's exclusion guidance treats April 1–August 31 as the default maternity period.
Sep–Oct
Best exclusion window
By September the young can fly. Fall, before bats settle in to hibernate, is FWP's preferred time to exclude.
Nov–Mar
Hibernation — inspect & plan
Many bats winter in caves and mines, but big brown bats sometimes hibernate in buildings. Don't exclude bats hibernating in a structure.
Billings bat removal FAQs
Who do I call in Billings if a bat is loose in my house?
Inside city limits, City of Billings Animal Control (part of the Billings Police Department) at (406) 657-8226 handles wildlife loose in the city. If anyone may have had contact with the bat, also call RiverStone Health at (406) 247-3200 about rabies testing before the bat is released.
Are bat encounters really increasing in Billings?
Local reporting says yes. In September 2026 KTVQ reported that RiverStone Health had tracked 11 bat incidents in Yellowstone County that year, 8 with human contact — about double the previous year.
When can bats be excluded from a Billings home?
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks advises never excluding bats from May through August, when flightless young may be in the roost. Late summer into fall, once the young can fly, is the preferred window, ideally before bats settle in to hibernate.
My house is from the 1950s — is it more likely to have bats?
Age alone doesn't mean bats, but about a quarter of Billings homes were built before 1960 and older homes usually have more settled joints, vents, and flashing gaps. Bats can use crevices as narrow as about 3/8 inch, so we inspect the whole envelope, not just the obvious holes.
Can I just poison or trap the bats?
No. MSU Extension notes there are no toxicants registered for use on bats in Montana, and FWP does not recommend trapping. Humane one-way exclusion followed by sealing is the accepted approach.
Nearby service areas
Sources
- City of Billings Animal Control (Billings Police Department)
- RiverStone Health
- KTVQ (Sept 2026) — Yellowstone County sees uptick in human interaction with bats
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates via Census Reporter — Billings, MT (tables B25034/B25035)
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — Living With Bats
- Montana Field Guide — Little Brown Myotis
- Montana Field Guide — Big Brown Bat
- MSU Extension — Bats in Homes
- Montana DPHHS — Rabies
Phone numbers and agency roles were checked against the linked pages in November 2026. Agencies change numbers — confirm on their site if a call doesn't connect.
Bats in your Billings home?
Humane bat removal and exclusion in Billings and Yellowstone County. Call or send a request and we'll set up an inspection.
Or email wildlifespecialistsgroup@gmail.com