Bats live in both urban and rural settings in this day and age, although it does depend on where in the United States you live, as well as what species of bat you're talking about. All species of bat can be found somewhere, but some species have shown themselves to be a pest in pretty much every sense of the word. In the wild — rural spots — bats are found in places that are cave-like, such as actual caves, holes in large formations or walls, hollows and cavities of trees, etc. Lots of these places are being destroyed to make way for human homes or commercial zones, and this has left bats needing to find somewhere else to live.



They have chosen urban habitats — where WE live.
As they get closer and closer to us, bats still look for the same things in the roosting spots they choose. It needs to be dark because the animals are nocturnal and only come out at night. The daytime is spent sleeping, and they can't do that when there is lots of light. The space will also need to be quiet and relatively left alone, and out of the way of most predators. This makes the attic space a prime target, especially as there are normally holes in roofs that make it easier for them to get inside. With a hole just 3/8 of an inch necessary, you can imagine all the potential entry points any residential roof can be home to.

Residential properties aren't the only ones hit; commercial ones are too. Warehouses, particularly ones that are lesser used, are common hit with bat infestations, and where it isn't bats, it'll be birds or rodents. Churches and cathedrals are hotspots, alongside farm buildings such as barns. Abandoned and derelict buildings are usually home to many an animal species, and bats are the some of the first to move in, and even spaces under bridges aren't safe. As long as it can fit the entire colony in, the space is dark, sheltered, protected from weather, and difficult for predators to reach, it'll make a great roosting spot.

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