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All About Getting Rid Of Bats In Your Home

Bats in your attic? Bats in your home? Do you need to get rid of Bats in your wall? What about removing Bats from a chimney?

Well, before we begin, Bats are protected under Federal law. During maternity season, it is illegal to exclude or remove Bats. Maternity season starts April 15th and ends August 15th. It is also illegal to kill Bats anytime of the year and there are NO poisons or fumigants registered for Bats in Florida.

And no, we DO NOT have Vampire Bats in Florida!

Any exclusion practices will be for a Live Bat Exclusion. So, how do you know if you have Bats in your home or office building? If you’re hearing scratching in your ceiling or walls, it could be Bats. Unless you’ve seen the Bats flying in and out of the structure, you will need to conduct a thorough inspection. Other critters such as Rats, Mice and Squirrels can make scratching noises too.

Quick Facts About Our Florida Bats

We have 13 species of Bats that breed in Florida. Bats are highly beneficial to our ecosystem. They feed on mosquitoes, beetles, termites, moths, ants, agricultural insects and other invasive flying insects. Bats eat their own weight in food per night. This means they can control hundreds of insects per Bat in a single night. Some of these species of Bats in Florida can live about 12 years.

Bats are not blind, they can actually see very well. Because they fly at night, they are able to see well in dim light. Nocturnal bats locate their food and navigate by uttering ultrasonic cries that return as echoes off solid objects. Most of our Florida Bats only produce one baby per year, called a “pup”.

Removing Bats From Your Home & Attic in Orlando, FL

So what is the best way of removing bats from your house? Here is a brief description of the process to exclude Bats in your attic, once they have established a roost:

The Specialized Termite Lawn and Pest Bat Removal Process

Step 1

Find where the bats are getting in – During the day, look for any opening the your thumb can fit in. If the Bats have been there for a while, there will be black/brown staining at the opening. This is from their body oils. There may also be Bat droppings (poop!) on the wall below the opening, as well as an odor. You can also watch them leave the structure at dusk.

Step 2

Bat-proof (seal up) all other openings – Once you determine which entrances the Bats are using, you will need to seal up all other potential openings so that they cannot use these to get back in. Entry points currently being used must stay open until maternity season ends.

Step 3

Install exclusion devices – There is no, one size fits all exclusion method for Bats. Certain screening materials work well. There are also professional bat removal products, such as one way cones, available to purchase. The temperature must be above 50 degrees for the next four (4) consecutive nights.

Step 4

Allow time for the bats to leave – Florida law requires exclusion devices be left in place, for at least four (4) warm nights, without rain or high winds to assure all of the bats have left.

Step 5

Permanently seal the openings – Once the Bats have been successfully excluded, the exclusion devices can be removed. The removal process should take place during the day and the openings permanently sealed immediately.

Step 6

Cleanup – If a colony of bats have been in a roosting for a long time, there will likely be an accumulation of Bat guano and an odor. It’s a good idea to remove bat guano from your attic and soffits. Bat guano can attract insects such as Ants and Cockroaches.

Step 7

Bat Houses – Since Bats are beneficial, it’s a good idea to provide a Bat house nearby. . This should be done before the Bat exclusion begins. Once the Bats have been excluded, they will need to find a new home.

Contact Termite Lawn & Pest Today!

If you think you have Bats in your home? Call Termite Lawn and Pest at 407-447-7378 to schedule your Bat or Wildlife Inspection. You can also contact us using our online form.