Bat Removal & Exclusion

We remove bats and seal them out humanely and legally — including New York's DEC restriction on exclusion during the maternity/pup season (roughly May 1–Aug 31).

A bat in the house is alarming, and a colony roosting in your attic is a genuine health and structural concern. In Central New York, little brown and big brown bats commonly enter through gaps at the roofline, gable vents, and where additions meet the house. We remove them humanely and legally — and we work within New York's DEC restriction on exclusion during the maternity/pup season (roughly May 1–August 15).

The right method is exclusion: one-way devices that let bats out to feed but not back in, followed by sealing every entry point once the roost is empty. Where guano has accumulated, we handle cleanup and decontamination. It's careful work, done to protect both your home and a protected, beneficial animal.

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Bats, New York law, and why timing matters

Bat work is the highest-value wildlife job in this region, and it is also the most regulated — for good reason. New York's bat species are beneficial, insect-eating animals, and several are protected. The little brown bat and big brown bat are the two you're most likely to find roosting in a Finger Lakes attic, entering through gaps at the roofline, ridge, gable vents, or where additions meet the original structure. A single gap the width of your thumb is enough.

The legally and ethically correct way to remove bats is exclusion, not extermination. That means installing one-way devices that let bats leave to feed but not return, then sealing the entry points once the roost is empty. Critically, New York restricts bat exclusion during the maternity season — roughly May 1 through August 15 — because flightless pups in the roost would be trapped and die if the adults were excluded. Reputable operators respect that window; it's both the law and the humane approach.

Because bats can carry rabies and their guano poses a health risk (histoplasmosis) when it accumulates, bat removal is not a DIY job. Done right, it combines humane one-way exclusion, thorough sealing of every secondary entry point, and — where droppings have built up — attic cleanup and decontamination. It's meticulous work, which is exactly why it commands the ticket it does and why it's worth hiring someone who does it correctly.

Signs of a bat problem

Bats seen flying out from the roofline, gable, or eaves at dusk.
Dark, greasy staining around a gap where bats squeeze in and out.
Piles of dark droppings (guano) in the attic or on the ground below an entry point.
A bat that has gotten into the living space, especially in summer.
Scratching or squeaking sounds in the attic or wall at dusk and dawn.

How we treat it

1
Inspection
We identify the species, find the primary and secondary entry points, and assess the roost and any guano accumulation.
2
One-way exclusion
We install one-way devices at the active entries so bats can leave to feed but cannot get back in — the humane, legal method.
3
Sealing
Once the roost is confirmed empty, we seal all entry points with durable, bat-proof materials so they cannot return.
4
Cleanup & decontamination
Where guano has accumulated, we clean and decontaminate the affected area and can address soiled insulation (attic restoration).
5
Timing to DEC rules
We schedule exclusion outside the maternity-season restriction (roughly May 1–Aug 15) so flightless pups are never trapped.

What to expect

Exclusion takes place over several days, since the one-way devices need time to let the whole colony out.
We schedule around New York's maternity-season restriction; emergency single-bat removal from living space can be handled anytime.
If a bat is in your living space and contact can't be ruled out, we advise on rabies-exposure safety and capture for testing.
Sealing is comprehensive — bats exploit any missed gap, so thoroughness is the whole job.

Seasonality in Central NY

Spring (Apr): bats return to summer roosts; the pre-maternity window is a good time for exclusion.
Maternity season (~May 1–Aug 15): exclusion is restricted because flightless pups would be trapped. We handle emergencies but schedule full exclusion around this window.
Late summer to fall (mid-Aug–Oct): prime exclusion season, after pups can fly and before bats leave for winter — the ideal time to seal them out for good.

What it costs

Bat exclusion is priced by the size of the structure, the number of entry points, and the extent of any cleanup. It's a meticulous job — thorough sealing is what prevents return — so it's a real investment rather than a quick treatment.

Attic cleanup, decontamination, and insulation restoration are quoted based on guano accumulation and can be bundled with the exclusion when needed.

How to prevent it

Seal roofline, ridge, gable-vent, and soffit gaps before and after the roosting season.
Screen gable and attic vents with bat-proof mesh.
Address gaps where additions, dormers, and chimneys meet the main structure.
Have exclusion done in the fall window so the house is sealed before next spring.

Signs bats are roosting in your home

The most common signs of a bat roost are subtle at first: soft scratching or squeaking sounds in the attic or walls around dusk and dawn, dark greasy staining around a gap in the soffit, ridge, or gable where bats squeeze in and out, and — the clearest indicator — accumulations of guano (bat droppings) below the entry point or in the attic. Bat guano looks like dark, elongated pellets that crumble to a powder and often glisten with bits of insect exoskeleton, distinguishing it from mouse droppings.

Homeowners frequently discover a roost by watching the house at dusk and seeing bats emerge from a specific spot along the roofline. In Central New York the two species most often found in buildings are the little brown bat and the big brown bat; big brown bats in particular will overwinter in structures. A single bat that blunders into living space is sometimes a stray, but repeated sightings, emergence at dusk, and guano accumulation point to an established colony that needs proper exclusion.

New York law, timing, and why it matters

Bats are the one wildlife situation where the calendar is set by law and biology, not convenience. In New York, bat exclusion is restricted during the maternity season — roughly May 1 through August 31 — because during those months flightless pups are in the roost. Sealing the adults out then would trap the pups inside to die, which is both inhumane and creates a far worse problem in your walls. Exclusion is properly done before or after that window, in spring or late summer through fall.

There is a conservation dimension too. Several of our native bat species, including the little brown bat, have been devastated by white-nose syndrome and are of significant conservation concern in New York, which is part of why humane, legal exclusion — rather than extermination — is the required and appropriate approach. Bats are also enormously beneficial, eating vast numbers of mosquitoes and agricultural pests, so the goal is always to get them out and keep them out, not to harm them.

Rabies, histoplasmosis, and guano

Bats warrant genuine caution for two reasons. First is rabies: while only a small percentage of bats carry it, bats are a leading source of human rabies exposure in the U.S., and because their bites can be tiny and painless, any direct contact — especially a bat found in a room with a sleeping person, a child, or someone unable to report contact — should be treated seriously and discussed with a health professional. Never handle a bat with bare hands.

Second is their guano. Accumulated bat droppings in an attic can, over time, support the growth of Histoplasma, a fungus whose spores can cause a respiratory illness (histoplasmosis) when disturbed and inhaled. That's why cleanup of an established roost isn't a bare-hands job — it calls for proper protective equipment and care. Guano accumulations also stain ceilings, produce odor, and can attract other pests.

Why humane exclusion is a job for a pro

Bat work is defined by doing it correctly, legally, and humanely, and that is genuinely hard to DIY. The method is live exclusion: identifying every entry point, installing one-way devices that let the bats leave to feed but not return, waiting until the roost has cleared, and only then sealing the openings permanently. Sealing too soon — or during maternity season — traps bats inside, where they die in the walls and sometimes end up in living space, turning a manageable situation into a much worse one.

A professional also handles the parts that make the fix last and safe: finding the often-hidden secondary entry points along complex rooflines, sealing to a standard that keeps bats (which need only a small gap) from simply re-entering, and cleaning and decontaminating guano accumulations with proper equipment. Given the rabies caution, the conservation and legal rules, and the need for permanent sealing, this is one of the clearest cases for bringing in someone who does it for a living.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to just kill or trap bats in New York?

No. New York's bats are beneficial and several are protected, and killing or improperly excluding them is not permitted. The correct method is humane one-way exclusion, and it's restricted during the maternity season when flightless pups are present.

When can bat exclusion be done?

Outside the maternity-season restriction — roughly May 1 through mid-August — when pups can't yet fly. The ideal window is late summer into fall. Emergency removal of a single bat from living space can be handled any time.

Are bats in the attic actually dangerous?

They can carry rabies, and accumulated guano can pose a respiratory health risk (histoplasmosis). That, plus the difficulty of doing exclusion correctly, is why it's not a DIY job.

What if a bat is flying around inside my house?

Don't release it outside if anyone may have been bitten or exposed while sleeping — capture is needed for rabies testing. Call us and we'll walk you through safe handling and come remove it.

How do bats get into the attic?

Through surprisingly small gaps — at the roofline, ridge, gable vents, soffits, and where dormers, chimneys, and additions meet the house. A thumb-width opening is enough, which is why thorough sealing matters.

Will they come back after exclusion?

Not if every entry point is sealed. Bats are persistent and exploit any missed gap, so comprehensive sealing — not just the main entry — is the core of the job and what the guarantee covers.

Do you clean up the droppings?

Yes. Where guano has accumulated we clean and decontaminate the area and can restore soiled insulation as an add-on. It's both a health and an odor issue.

How long does the whole process take?

Exclusion runs over several days so the one-way devices can let the entire colony out before sealing. We confirm the roost is empty before closing the final entries.

There's a bat in my house — what should I do right now?

Don't handle it with bare hands. If it's a single stray, confine it to one room, close interior doors, and open a window to let it leave. Importantly, if a bat is found in a room with a sleeping person, a child, or a pet — or anyone who can't reliably say whether contact occurred — save the bat if you safely can and contact a health professional, because rabies exposure from bats can happen without an obvious bite.

Why can't you remove the bats in June or July?

New York restricts bat exclusion during the maternity season, roughly May 1–August 31, because flightless pups are in the roost. Sealing the adults out then would trap the pups inside to die — inhumane and a much worse problem for you. Proper exclusion is done in spring before, or late summer through fall after, that window.

Can't I just seal the hole I see them using?

That's the most common and most damaging mistake. Bats often use several entry points, and sealing them in traps bats in your walls. The correct method is one-way exclusion devices that let them leave but not return, followed by permanent sealing only once the roost has cleared — and never during maternity season.

Is bat guano in my attic dangerous?

It can be. Accumulated guano can harbor a fungus that causes a respiratory illness (histoplasmosis) when disturbed and inhaled, and it stains and smells. Cleanup should be done with proper protective equipment, not by hand — it's part of a complete exclusion job.

Our guarantee

Covered by our defined-term service guarantee: if covered pests return during the service period, we re-treat at no additional charge. See Our Guarantee for terms and exclusions.

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