# Bats

> Dealing with bats and guano? Learn about bat infestations, dangers of guano, and humane removal. Dr. Critter offers expert bat removal and cleanup services.

Source: https://drcritter.com/animal/bats/
Type: Species reference page
Updated: 2026-07-28

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That strong, unpleasant odor you're noticing is likely guano, another term for bat droppings, and a clear sign of a bat infestation. Bats are adept at squeezing into tight spaces, using these areas for daytime shelter before venturing out at night. Guano is often visible near their entry points on your home or building, and you may also detect the odor from a distance or observe bats exiting the structure at dusk. Bats form large colonies, compounding the problem.

Identifying bat entry points can be challenging, as they can fit through openings as small as ½ inch. Common bat habitats include attics, sheds, barns, chimneys, soffits, and various other building crevices. Bat guano poses a significant health hazard and can lead to costly damage if not addressed. Dr. Critter specializes in comprehensive bat removal services, including inspections, humane eviction, guano cleanup, entry point repair, and deodorization. If you suspect a bat problem, don't delay. Contact us for expert bat removal and guano cleanup services.

## How do bats get into a Florida attic?

Through gaps you would not think twice about. A bat needs roughly three-eighths of an inch: a lifted roof tile, an unsealed ridge vent, the gap where fascia board meets the roof deck, or a construction joint at a gable end. They do not chew or claw their way in, so there is no torn-open entry to find. You find bats by watching the building at dusk rather than by hunting for damage.

## What are the signs of a bat colony overhead?

Three give it away. Dark greasy staining around an entry gap, left by fur passing the same spot night after night. Guano accumulating below that gap or in the attic beneath the roost, crumbling to a glittery powder of insect wings. And a chittering, high squeaking that builds in the half hour before the colony emerges at dusk.

**Bat colony activity through the Central Florida year, against the state exclusion window**

| Period | Colony status | Can exclusion be done? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aug 15–Apr 15 | No dependent young; colony free-flying | Yes, this is the legal exclusion window |
| Apr 16–Aug 14 | Maternity season; flightless pups in the roost | No, prohibited under FAC 68A-9.012 |
| Late Aug–Oct | Young flying; colony at maximum size | Yes, and the best time to act |
| Nov–Feb | Reduced activity in cool spells; colony still resident | Yes, though emergence counts take longer |

## Why can bats not be removed between April and August?

Florida Administrative Code 68A-9.012 prohibits bat exclusion from April 16 through August 14. During those months the roost holds flightless pups, and sealing the building shuts them in to die while the adults fly out. Every Florida bat species is protected, and killing them is illegal. If a company offers to exclude your bats in June, that is a rule violation and a reason to call someone else.

## How does bat exclusion work?

The colony is never trapped or handled. Every gap on the structure is sealed except the ones the bats use, and those get one-way devices that let a bat out and give it nowhere to re-enter. The colony empties itself over several nights. Once emergence counts confirm the roost is clear, the devices come off and the last openings are closed permanently.

## How long does bat exclusion take?

Two to four weeks in most cases. Sealing and device installation take one to two days. The colony then needs five to ten nights to clear, longer in cool weather when bats fly less. Final sealing happens after that, and guano remediation and insulation replacement are scheduled once the roost is confirmed empty.

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Dr. Critter Wildlife Control, licensed Florida Nuisance Wildlife Trapper since 1996. Sanford, FL, serving Orlando and Central Florida. Phone: 800-932-7287.