Bats are one of the most important animals in nature. They’re also pests. They can make a home in your property, and not only do they carry disease but their droppings may carry illnesses that are potentially fatal.
Bat control is different from some other forms of pest control. Bats play too important a role in the environment. So rather than exterminate bats, wildlife control companies like NYC and NJ Animal Control uses a technique called “exclusion.”
Why Bat Exclusion?
Although bats may have a frightening reputation, they are a key part of the local ecosystem as they eat thousands of insects, including mosquitoes. Many local species of bat are also recognized as an endangered species. It’s why our team at NYC and NJ Animal Control makes sure to never harm these animals even when they are a threat to your family.
Bats are also creatures of habit, and will return to the same place year after year. Simply removing the bats without completely securing entry means the bats will return the next evening. It’s why we use a process called exclusion. Exclusion involves sealing up all entrance points so that bats cannot live on your property, and are forced to find a new place to live.
Exclusion makes sure not only that the bats are removed, but that they cannot get back in again.
When Can You Exclude Bats
Due to their nesting times (when bats may be breeding), state legislation gives specific times for bats to be legally excluded. These times can vary depending on state, but in general:
- Late Spring – Exclusion is permitted.
- Early Summer – Bats cannot be excluded once the baby bats are born. Since the bat pups cannot fly, excluding bats would trap the babies inside.
- Late Summer to Early Fall – Exclusion is once again permitted as the pups have grown enough that they can fly.
- Fall to Spring – Bats are hibernating for the winter months and cannot be excluded as they are not flying.
Sealing Your Home
Bats can enter a structure through the smallest gaps under roof eaves or around chimneys. During exclusion, an exterminator locates all the points of entry and installs one way exits over them, often using a plastic netting. These exits allow bats to exit the home, but not return.
After a week to ensure any remaining bats have left, points of entry can be cleaned and permanently sealed, preventing bats from returning in the future.
Animal Control NY/NJ Can Help With Bat Exclusion
For homeowners and building managers in New York and New Jersey, Animal Control NY/NJ provides bat inspection, exclusion planning, guano guidance, and prevention recommendations. Because bat exclusions are seasonal and must be handled carefully, we help identify entry points and plan the right next step for the property.
Bats should be handled by a trained wildlife professional. Even healthy bats can become dangerous when they are trapped, stressed, or handled incorrectly, and full structural exclusion needs to account for entry points, timing, safety, and whether young bats may be present.
Whether there is a bat inside a living space, activity in an attic, or suspected entry around a roofline, chimney, vent, or fascia gap, we can help inspect the issue and explain practical options. Call Animal Control NY/NJ at (646) 741-4333 or (732) 387-4135.
For building entry points, guano concerns, and seasonal exclusion planning, see our bat removal and exclusion services or contact Animal Control NY/NJ.
