Our Bat Neighbors

Bats make great neighbors. They amaze us with their nightly acrobatic displays while gobbling up thousands of flying insects -- all for free! But they need safe places to sleep during the day, suitable roosts to raise their young, and cool, protected spots to hibernate in the winter. Unfortunately due to our ever-expanding development, bats have lost many of the forests, caves and other natural areas that they have used for shelter. But some bats have found alternative roosts. They may take up residence in our homes, either in the attic or in the space behind our walls. Sometimes they find suitable roosting areas in garages, barns or other structures. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We can safely coexist with our small, flying friends by making sure there are no openings where the bats can squeeze into our living space.

If you need to remove a bat colony from your home, there are humane ways to exclude them. An exclusion involves finding where the bats are entering your home, using a one-way exit to allow all the bats to exit, and then sealing any holes after all the bats have left. Bats in our area give birth in June and the young cannot fly until August. Excluding bats from your home during these summer months will only trap the bat pups inside to starve. In addition, some bats may hibernate in attics, so exclusions should not be performed in the winter. Plan an exclusion when the bats are awake and active, but not while there may be young bats inside. In our area, the time windows are mid-April through May (spring), and August 16 through October. (late summer/fall). Many professionals prefer fall exclusions. Depending on the situation, you can do this yourself or hire a professional. In New York, you can call Wildlife Control Operators (NWCOs) to help with exclusions -- private business owners licensed by the NYS DEC to handle and remove wildlife issues in and around your home. Unfortunately, not all of these individuals or companies treat bats humanely. So it's important to do some research and ask questions in order to prevent harm to any bats and ensure that the bats are safely removed using a live exclusion.

Check company websites. Those who talk about bats as pests that need to be exterminated, and those that use poisons do not need further consideration. Those who use scare tactics that make bats out to be dangerous and health hazards may not be the ideal choice either. Start with companies who strive to resolve wildlife problems humanely and who are experienced at performing live exclusions.

Call and ask questions.

• Have them describe their bat removal process. Make sure they will inspect your home, formulate a plan and answer any of your questions.

• The removal process should NOT include:

  • glue traps

  • poisons or pesticides

  • killing or harming any bats

  • use of traps or relocation

  • removal during maternity season

• You DO want the company to have:

  • experience with live exclusions

  • familiarity with bat species being excluded

  • possession of a valid license and insurance

  • written contract

• Ask for at least 3 client references with phone numbers

Remember that if you find bats in your house, that they don't mean you any harm. These bats often have no place else to go. In many cases, we can safely and peacefully live side-by-side with bats. But if removal of bats is necessary, make sure to work with professionals who perform humane exclusions without needlessly harming bats. This is a win-win situation for all involved!

Learn more at the link below:

Bat Conservation International