Fully FWC-Compliant
1-Year Warranty Included
Licensed & Insured
Sarasota & Manatee County
Wildlife Services - Humane Bat Exclusion

BAT
EXCLUSION
SERVICE

Fully legal, humane bat exclusion performed in compliance with Florida FWC guidelines - one-way devices, complete structural sealing, attic sanitation, and a 1-year warranty on the work.

$1,000 starting price
1 Year warranty included
⚠️ Legal exclusion window:
Aug 15 - Apr 15 only
BAT HSE

Florida FWC Law - Know Before You Call

Bat Exclusion Has a Legal Window in Florida

All of Florida's native bat species are protected under state law. Bat exclusion - the only legal removal method - can only be performed between August 15 and April 15. From April 16 through August 14, it is illegal to block bats from their roosts without a special FWC permit.

Florida Bat Exclusion Season - Annual Calendar Per Florida FWC / FAC 68A-9.012
APR 16+
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG 1-14
Legal exclusion window - Aug 15 to Apr 15
Maternity season - exclusion prohibited - Apr 16 to Aug 14

⛔ Why the maternity season blackout exists: From April 16 through August 14, female bats give birth and nurse pups that cannot yet fly. Excluding adult bats during this window traps flightless pups inside the structure, where they will die. This is both illegal under Florida law and inhumane. Exclusion performed during this window - even by mistake - can result in FWC enforcement action. David will not perform exclusion work during the maternity season under any circumstances, and will schedule work to be completed before April 15 or after August 15.

⚠ Discovered bats during maternity season? Don't wait. Contact David now to schedule an inspection, document all entry and exit points, and have everything ready to begin exclusion the day the legal window opens. August 15 books fast - properties inspected in advance get scheduled first.

Complete Exclusion Program

What's Included in the Bat Exclusion Service

From the first inspection through the final seal - a complete, FWC-compliant bat exclusion with a 1-year warranty on the work.

Bat exclusion is not a single product or a single visit. It is a multi-step process governed by Florida law that requires identifying every entry point, installing one-way exclusion devices correctly, waiting long enough for the entire colony to exit, and then sealing permanently only after confirmed departure. Cut any of those steps short and the exclusion either fails or violates FWC rules. David follows the full legal process, every time.

  • Full property inspection - evening emergence count to estimate colony size, identification of all entry and exit points, species assessment, and full quote before work begins.
  • One-way exclusion devices - installed at all active bat entry points, allowing bats to exit at dusk but preventing re-entry. Left in place for a minimum of four consecutive nights above 50°F with no rain or high winds per FWC requirements.
  • Complete structural sealing - once the colony is confirmed out, all entry points sealed permanently with materials bats cannot penetrate.
  • Guano cleanup - attic area vacuumed and treated with odor eliminator and disinfectant to remove guano, neutralize odor, and address any pathogen risk.
  • Bat house available - give the displaced colony somewhere to go. Bat houses installed on the property keep bats working for you - eating mosquitoes and insects - without living in your structure.
  • 1-year warranty - if bats re-enter through any sealed point during the warranty period, David returns and re-seals it at no additional charge.

Starting at $1,000. Final pricing depends on the size of the structure, the number of entry and exit points, the estimated colony size, and the extent of guano remediation needed. David provides a full itemized quote after the initial inspection.

🦠

Health Risks from Bat Guano

Bat guano that accumulates in attics can harbor Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungal spore that becomes airborne when disturbed. Inhaling these spores can cause histoplasmosis - a serious respiratory illness. Bats themselves can also carry rabies, though transmission requires direct contact. Professional cleanup with appropriate PPE and sanitation products is essential - disturbing guano without respiratory protection is a health risk.

  • → Guano vacuumed with proper PPE including respirator
  • → Odor eliminator applied to neutralize organic scent
  • → Disinfectant applied to reduce pathogen risk
  • → Attic not re-entered without confirming all bats are out

The Process

Four Steps to a Bat-Free, Sealed Structure

Florida law requires a specific process for bat exclusion. David follows every step correctly - no shortcuts that risk re-infestation, fines, or harm to the bats.

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Phase 1 - Inspect

Evening emergence observation to count the colony. Every entry and exit point mapped. Species identified. Quote provided. Work scheduled within the legal window.

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Phase 2 - One-Way Devices

Exclusion devices installed at all active entry points. Bats exit each night to feed but cannot return. Left in place a minimum of four consecutive legal nights per FWC rules.

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Phase 3 - Permanent Seal

Once the colony is confirmed out, all entry points sealed permanently with bat-proof materials. Devices removed. Structure closed. Bat house installed if requested.

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Phase 4 - Sanitation

Attic guano vacuumed with full PPE. Odor eliminator and disinfectant applied. Warranty begins. Structure protected.

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One-Way Exclusion Devices

The only legal bat removal method in Florida. Devices are installed over every active entry and exit point - bats push through to exit at dusk when they leave to feed, but cannot push back through to re-enter. No bats are harmed, trapped, or killed.

  • Installed at all active bat entry and exit points
  • Allow bats to exit freely every night
  • Physically block re-entry
  • Left in place minimum 4 consecutive legal nights at 50°F+
  • Removed only after colony departure is confirmed
  • No chemicals, poisons, or traps - FWC compliant
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Structural Sealing

Bats access structures through gaps as small as 3/8 of an inch. After the colony exits, every identified entry point is sealed permanently with materials that bats cannot push through, gnaw, or squeeze past - soffits, ridge gaps, fascia joints, vents, and any other opening.

  • All identified entry points sealed after confirmed exit
  • Bat-proof mesh, caulk, and flashing used as appropriate
  • Soffit systems, ridge caps, and fascia addressed
  • Roof vent stacks fitted with Critter Quitter covers
  • Gap-free seal verified before warranty activates
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Guano Cleanup & Sanitation

Bat guano accumulates in attics over years and can harbor airborne fungal spores. After bats are out and the structure is sealed, the attic area is vacuumed and treated with odor-eliminating and disinfecting products - the same Bac-A-Zap and DSV formulas used in rodent exclusion sanitation.

  • Attic vacuumed with full PPE including respirator
  • Guano and debris removed from accessible areas
  • Bac-A-Zap applied for odor elimination
  • DSV disinfectant applied to reduce pathogen risk
  • Residual bat scent eliminated to discourage future roosting

Give Them Somewhere to Go

Bat Houses - Keep the Bats Working for You

Bats are valuable. A single bat eats hundreds of insects per night - including mosquitoes, beetles, and moths that damage gardens and landscaping. Exclusion removes them from your structure, not from your property. A bat house gives them an alternative roost nearby so they keep working for you.

Bat Houses - Available with Every Exclusion Service

Professionally installed bat houses positioned for maximum colony adoption - the right height, the right sun exposure, and close enough to the original roost site that the displaced colony finds and uses them.

Why Install One

A colony displaced from your structure without an alternative will often attempt to return or find the next available gap nearby. A bat house on the property - installed correctly - gives them a preferred alternative and significantly reduces re-entry attempts.

Placement Matters

Bat houses need 8 or more hours of direct sun per day, a height of at least 12 to 15 feet, and proximity to water and the original roost location. David installs houses in locations that maximize the chance of adoption by the displaced colony - not just wherever is convenient.

Natural Pest Control

A colony of 100 bats can eat 1,000 or more insects per night. In Sarasota and Manatee County - where mosquitoes, moths, and beetles are active year-round - keeping bats on your property working as natural insect control has real, measurable value.

1-Year Warranty

The Warranty. What It Covers.

Every bat exclusion is backed by a 1-year warranty on the sealing work. If bats re-enter through any point that was sealed as part of the service, David returns and re-seals it at no additional charge.

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1-Year Warranty - Included with Every Exclusion

The warranty covers re-entry through sealed entry points for 12 months from the completion date. If bats find their way back in through a sealed point - whether due to a seal failure, storm damage, or an entry point that was missed - David returns, identifies the breach, and re-seals it at no charge.

The warranty covers the exclusion work itself. Entry through a new gap created after the original work is complete - storm damage to the roof, a contractor opening an area, new construction adjacent to the structure - would be assessed separately. David will always be straightforward about what's covered and what isn't.

Why Ratical

FWC-Compliant. No Shortcuts. No Exceptions.

Bat exclusion done wrong - during the wrong season, with devices left up too few nights, or sealed before the colony is confirmed out - risks FWC enforcement action, failed exclusion, and dead bats in the walls. David does it right.

⚖️

Fully FWC-Compliant

Every exclusion is performed within the legal August 15 to April 15 window, with devices left up the required minimum nights at the required temperature threshold. No work during maternity season, no shortcuts on the process.

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Evening Emergence Count

David observes the property at dusk to count emerging bats and identify all exit points before any work begins. This is how colony size is estimated and how entry points that aren't visible in daylight get found - it's the step most non-specialists skip.

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Sealed Only When Empty

No entry points are permanently sealed until the colony is confirmed gone. Sealing with bats still inside is both illegal and inhumane - it traps them to die in the walls. David confirms departure before a single permanent seal goes in.

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You Always Reach David

Questions during the exclusion process, activity during the warranty period, or anything that looks like re-entry - call David directly. He knows your structure, knows what was sealed, and will respond fast.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

I have bats right now and it's during maternity season - what can I do?
If it's between April 16 and August 14, exclusion cannot be performed legally without a special FWC permit. What David can do is inspect your property now - document every entry and exit point, observe an evening emergence to count the colony and identify species, and have everything planned and scheduled so work begins the moment the legal window opens on August 15. August 15 books fast every year. Properties inspected in advance get priority scheduling. Contact David now even if exclusion can't happen yet.
How long does the full exclusion process take?
The exclusion device installation is done in a single visit. Devices must remain in place for a minimum of four consecutive nights at 50°F or warmer with no rain or high winds - bad weather resets the count, so the timeline can extend to a week or two depending on conditions. Once departure is confirmed, David returns to permanently seal all entry points and remove the devices. Sanitation follows the sealing visit. From first visit to completed sanitation, the full process typically takes two to four weeks depending on weather and colony activity.
How do I know if I have bats or something else in the attic?
Bats are most active at dawn and dusk - scratching or rustling heard primarily at those times of day, rather than throughout the night, is a strong indicator. Bat guano is small, dark, and crumbles to powder when dry - it's often found in piles directly below the roost point in the attic or on the exterior wall beneath a soffit gap. The clearest confirmation is an evening emergence observation - watching the entry points at dusk to see bats exit. David performs this as part of the initial inspection.
Are bats dangerous? Do I need to worry about rabies?
Bats can carry rabies, though the prevalence in Florida bat populations is very low. The risk comes from direct contact - being bitten or scratched. Bats roosting in an attic space you don't regularly enter present a low risk to household members. If you find a bat inside your living area, or if a bat is found near a sleeping person or child, contact your county health department - post-exposure rabies prophylaxis may be recommended. Never handle a bat with bare hands. During the exclusion and sanitation process, David works with full PPE including gloves and a respirator.
Will a bat house actually work - will the bats use it?
Bat house adoption rates are higher when houses are installed close to the original roost site, positioned correctly for sun exposure and height, and installed before or immediately after exclusion - when the displaced colony is actively looking for an alternative. David positions bat houses based on FWC and bat conservation guidelines for maximum adoption probability. There is no guarantee a specific colony will use a bat house, but correct installation significantly improves the odds and gives bats a legal, beneficial alternative to your structure.
What if the same bats come back after the exclusion?
That's what the 1-year warranty covers. If bats re-enter through any point that was sealed as part of the original service, David returns and re-seals it at no additional charge. Bats are highly site-faithful - they return to the same roost year after year - so a thorough, complete seal is critical. If re-entry occurs through a new gap that wasn't part of the original work, David will assess it and quote accordingly. The warranty is clear about what it covers, and David will be upfront about the distinction.

Bat Exclusion Service - Aug 15 to Apr 15

Don't Wait for
August 15 to Call.

Inspections happen year-round. Get scheduled now so you're first in line when the legal exclusion window opens. Starting at $1,000 - includes full exclusion, sanitation, and a 1-year warranty.

Get My Free Inspection
Prefer to talk? Call David at (941) 254-1051