Bat Removal Boulder, CO
Boulder County Public Health treats rabies as a countywide risk — a June 2026 positive bat in Niwot was the latest reminder. Here is who to call in the City of Boulder and when a roost can be sealed.
Rabid bats in Boulder County
On June 12, 2026, Boulder County Public Health reported that a bat found at a private residence in Niwot had tested positive for rabies. Environmental Health Specialist Carly Wilson said rabies can occur anywhere in Boulder County, not only where that bat was found. The county advises residents never to touch bats under eaves, porch overhangs, shutters or gutters, and to call public health immediately if a person or pet may have had contact. About 15% of bats tested for rabies in Colorado test positive, the county notes.
For human contact questions, Boulder County also points people to the Colorado Health Information Line at 1-877-462-2911 and to its rabies guidance at boco.org/rabies. White-nose syndrome has been confirmed in Boulder County bats as well (CPW lists Boulder among affected counties), which is another reason exclusion should move bats out alive rather than sealing them in.
Who to call in the City of Boulder
- Possible contact with a bat (people or pets): Boulder County Public Health, 303-441-1564.
- City of Boulder Animal Protection (Police Department division): 303-441-3333 to report a problem or file a complaint; office line 303-441-1874 for non-emergent questions. Officers respond to vicious or stray animals, nuisance complaints, injured or ill animals, and related issues — not attic colony exclusion.
- Wild animal that appears sick or is still in the area: Animal Protection / dispatch guidance published with the June 2026 rabies notice lists 303-441-4444.
- Bitten? Wash with soap and water, seek medical care, and report so the bat can be tested when it can be collected safely.
Boulder housing, rentals and foothills entry points
Boulder has 49,329 housing units with a median year built of 1977 — older than most Front Range peers. About 55% of units predate 1980, and only 12% were built in 2010 or later. Just 37% are single-family detached homes; 36% of units are in buildings with 10 or more apartments, and 58% of homes are rented. University-area multiplexes, Canyon and Mapleton frame houses, and foothills properties share the same bat-sized gaps: unscreened attic vents, open soffits, chimney flashing and where wood siding meets the roofline. The Colorado Bat Working Group notes bats follow existing gaps rather than chewing new ones, so rental properties need landlord or HOA coordination when several units share a roof.
When bat exclusion can happen in Boulder
Colorado Parks and Wildlife asks property owners to avoid sealing bats out of buildings during pupping season, June through August. The Colorado Bat Working Group gives a slightly longer window (June to mid-August) and asks a simple question first: can the work wait until the maternity colony disperses in autumn?
In Boulder, NOAA normals for the Boulder station put the average low at 50°F or warmer in Jun–Aug, the stretch when insects, and therefore bats, are most active. That lines up with the state window. We use those months for inspection and night exit counts. One-way doors go up after the pups can fly, and stay up for the 5–10 nights the Working Group recommends before the last gaps are sealed.
Boulder at a glance
- Housing units: 49,329 (median year built 1977)
- Built before 1980: 55%; built 2010 or later: 12%
- Single-family detached: 37%; buildings with 10+ units: 36%
- Renter-occupied homes: 58%
- Average January low: 22°F; average July high: 88°F
- Months with an average low of 50°F or warmer: Jun–Aug
Housing figures: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year estimates (tables B25024, B25034, B25035, B25003) via Census Reporter. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Boulder station.
Common questions
Will City of Boulder Animal Protection remove bats from my attic?
Animal Protection responds to stray, vicious, injured or nuisance animal calls. Excluding a colony from an attic or wall void is private wildlife-control work.
Who do I call if a bat may have touched someone in Boulder?
Call Boulder County Public Health at 303-441-1564. For animal collection or a sick wild animal still on site, use City of Boulder Animal Protection at 303-441-3333 (or the 303-441-4444 guidance published with county rabies notices).
Have rabid bats been found in Boulder County?
Yes. Boulder County Public Health announced on June 12, 2026, that a bat found at a private residence in Niwot tested positive for rabies, and reminded residents that rabies can occur anywhere in the county.
Is white-nose syndrome in Boulder County?
Yes. Colorado Parks and Wildlife lists Boulder among Colorado counties where white-nose syndrome has been confirmed in bats.
When can bats be excluded in Boulder?
CPW asks property owners not to seal bats out during June–August pupping season. After the young can fly, one-way doors stay up for 5–10 nights before final sealing.
Nearby city guides
Sources
- Boulder County: Bat found in Boulder County tested positive for rabies (June 12, 2026)
- Boulder County: Animal-borne disease / vector control
- Boulder County rabies information
- City of Boulder: Animal Protection
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Living with Bats
- Colorado Bat Working Group (CNHP, CSU): excluding bats from buildings
- Census Reporter: Boulder profile (ACS 2024 1-year)
- NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 monthly normals (Boulder)
Other Colorado cities we serve
We serve all of Colorado. Here are nearby service areas.
Other wildlife removal services we offer here
Boulder bat removal, done right.
Call for a phone consultation. Written warranty.