Every spring, Florida’s bats gather in maternity colonies to give birth and raise their pups. To protect them, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) restricts when bats can be excluded from buildings.
Key dates
- Maternity season: April 16 through August 14.
- Last day to exclude without a permit: April 15.
- Exclusion window: August 15 through April 15.
Why exclusions stop during maternity season
Pups can’t fly for several weeks after birth. If the adults were excluded, the young would be trapped inside, which is harmful to the bats and can create odor and sanitation problems in your home.
If you have bats right now
- Don’t seal active entry points or disturb the roost during maternity season.
- Never handle a bat with bare hands. If a bat may have contacted a person or pet, seek medical, veterinary or public health guidance.
- Avoid sweeping dry droppings. Disturbing guano can release dust linked to histoplasmosis.
- Schedule an inspection so your exclusion is planned and ready when the season ends.
Outside maternity season
From August 15 through April 15, bats can be removed with humane exclusion. FWC guidelines call for one-way devices to stay up at least four nights, when overnight lows are forecast to be 50°F or higher, followed by sealing the openings.