You’ve got about a month to legally remove those pesky bats that have been nesting in your attic.
Bat maternity season runs from April 16 through Aug. 14, and it’s illegal to block or exclude bats from their roosts during this timeframe.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says April 15 is the last day bats may be legally excluded from a home or building without a permit.
“Exclusion during maternity season can trap flightless pups inside structures, causing unnecessary harm to the bats and additional complications for the property owner,” an FWC press release reads. “Before maternity season begins, conduct a final spring inspection to identify and seal potential entry points and confirm no bats are present.”
So, what is your home or work is infested with these creatures of the night?
“If bats are detected, install a properly designed bat exclusion device that allows them to leave safely but prevents reentry,” FWC says. “These one-way devices are the only legal and appropriate method for removing bats from structures.”
Bats must be removed by April 15 due to maternity season
Exclusion devices must be used for at least four nights and when nighttime lows are expected to be 50 degrees or warmer.
Florida is home to 13 bat species, and it’s illegal to harm or kill any native Florida bat.
FWC says bats help control pests like insects and act as pollinators and see dispersers.
“Bat guano can also be used as a valuable natural fertilizer,” FWC says. “All of Florida’s bat species eat insects, and a single bat can consume hundreds of insects each night, including mosquitoes and other pests that affect gardens and agriculture.”
There are several ways that Florida residents and visitors can help our bats:
Preserve natural roost sites, including trees with cavities or peeling bark.
Leave dead fronds on palm trees to provide roosting spots for bats.
Add native plants when landscaping your property to attract native pollinators and benefit bats.
Install a bat house on your property.
Do not bring equipment, clothes, or shoes that have been in caves in other states into Florida’s caves.
Report unusual bat behavior and sick or dead bats to MyFWC.com/BatMortality.
For more information about how to properly exclude bats and other tips to bat-proof your home, visit MyFWC.com/Bats.
Chad Gillis is an environment reporter and can be reached by email at cgillis@news-press.com.
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: Got bats? Time when they can’t be removed from homes is nearly here
Reporting by Chad Gillis, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Marco Eagle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
