Bats in Your Attic: How Legal Removal Works in Florida (2026)

Bats in the attic: what removal legally involves right now

The maternity season ended on August 15, so bats in attic removal is legal again anywhere in Florida until April 15. It is done by exclusion, never by trapping. Every Florida bat species is protected under Florida Administrative Code 68A-9.010, so the colony is never handled, poisoned or caught. The sequence is the same on every job. It starts with an inspection at dusk to count the emergence and map the gaps in use, which are often no wider than three-eighths of an inch. The building is then sealed everywhere except those active gaps. One-way devices go on the active gaps so a bat can fly out at night and cannot get back in. After several nights of watching the count fall to zero, the devices come off and the last openings are closed for good. Guano cleanup and insulation replacement follow once the roost is confirmed empty.

Three things a homeowner must not do. Do not seal the roofline between April 16 and August 14, when flightless pups are inside. Do not use poison, glue boards or fumigants on a bat. Do not block an entry while bats are still inside, because that pushes them into the living space. Bat removal from attic spaces gets one shot, and a partial seal is how a colony ends up in a wall.

Not sure whether the window is open today? The bat season checker reads the date and tells you whether exclusion is legal right now. The rule itself, and what an operator may and may not offer you, is in our guide to Florida bat removal laws. If the roost is inside the metro, bat exclusion in Orlando covers local timing and response.

Removal of bats is accomplished through a combination of sealing holes on the exterior of your home (bat proofing the structure) and installing bat eviction devices that encourage them to leave but make it impossible for them to return. Due to the intricate nature of bat removal, it is not something we recommend a home or business do themselves.

This is a question we're asked daily. Florida laws can be a little tricky to navigate when it comes to legally and successfully removes bats from a home, but in almost every case, they follow the steps outlined above. As with other animals, there are three elements to seeing a bat job through to a successful completion, what we refer to as the AAA's of animal Control:

A. Animal: accomplished in this case by successfully removing the animals;

A. Attraction: this is accomplished by removing scent markings that attract animals to return to your home; and

A. Access: this is accomplished by sealing the entry points the animals are using, or can potentially use, to enter your home.

Why is it important to remove bats, aren't they great for the environment?

Absolutely. Bats are great for the environment, but they don't belong in your home. Our methods of bat removal don't harm or injure the bats, and when performed at the correct time of the year, ensure a successful resolution that is environmentally conscious. But to answer the question, bats can be dangerous house mates. Bats are a vector for the rabies, which is essentially 100% fatal to humans if not treated in time. Because of their small size, and tiny teeth, it's possible to get bitten by a bat without realizing it. Their feces, also known as guano, contains bacteria that can also lead to health problems, and no one wants to live with animal poop in their home! Additionally, due to the large size of some colonies, and the sheer volume of waste they can create, the weight of bat guano can cause problems with your home. We have even seen instances of ceilings collapsing due to the amount of guano that accumulates in attic spaces.

What should I consider when choosing someone to remove bats from my attic?

Aside from the usual questions you ask of any service provider, such as experience, time in business, licensing and cost; the intricacies of bat removal require more than just another animal trapper.

Firstly, what do they specialize in? Many traditional pest control companies are dipping their toes in the water when it comes to animal removal. Because bats aren't removed like other animals, your larger pest control companies often don't know how to treat for bats correctly.

Secondly, what materials will be used to complete the project? There are a number of ways to keep bats our of your home, but they're not all created equally. Companies experienced in bat removal will be able to tell you exactly how they plan on completing the work, and what it will do as far as the aesthetics of the building are concerned.

Finally, ask them to walk you through the process. Ours is set out on the professional attic animal removal page, from the inspection to the one-way devices to the sealing. Bat eviction isn't an easy process, but a company well versed in the process will be able to explain it to you in very simple terms, making it sound like a walk in the park!

Remember: you get one shot at a successful bat eviction. If it isn't done correctly the first time, it can end up costing you thousands of unnecessary dollars, create health problems for you, your family and your pets, and be a source of frustration!

At the end of the day, if you have bats, or suspect you have bats in your home, give us a call here at Dr. Critter; every home is different, and we can make sure we tailor a solution to your home.