Bat Removal & Exclusion in Ithaca, NY
Bat removal and exclusion in Ithaca is the highest-value wildlife service in the area — and the most regulated. Ithaca's older homes and wooded neighborhoods, from East Hill to Forest Home, give little brown and big brown bats plenty of roosting sites, and getting them out legally and humanely takes the right approach and timing.
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).
Bats in Ithaca: what we do
- We perform humane, legal bat exclusion on Ithaca homes, working within New York's maternity-season restriction (roughly May 1 to mid-August).
- We seal every entry point — bats exploit any gap you miss — and clean up guano where it has accumulated.
- We directly contest the wildlife-only incumbents by pairing bat work with full general-pest service.
Serving Ithaca and all of Tompkins County. See the full Bat Removal & Exclusion service for how it works.
Bats FAQs
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.
Bats help in Ithaca?
Free estimates. Family owned. Guaranteed work.