Bat Biology

Bat Colonies in Your Structure Require Immediate — and Careful — Action

Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained flight, and they exploit gaps in structures that no other animal could access. A colony of bats in your attic or walls generates enormous quantities of guano over time, creating one of the most serious contamination scenarios in residential wildlife management. Florida law protects bats, which means removal must follow strict legal protocols. Critter 911 is fully licensed for bat colony exclusion and has been managing bat situations across Central Florida for over 21 years.

How Critter 911 Handles Bats

• Thorough inspection to determine species, colony size, and all entry and exit points

• Legally compliant bat exclusion — no bats are killed during the process

• One-way exclusion device installation to allow bats to exit but not re-enter

• Complete permanent seal-up of all secondary entry points

• Guano removal and attic decontamination including anti-fungal fog treatment

• Insulation removal and full attic restoration where contamination warrants it

• Bat house installation as relocation habitat where appropriate

• Post-exclusion monitoring and annual warranty check-ins

What Batss Actually Do to Your Property

• Guano Accumulation & Histoplasmosis

Bat guano accumulates rapidly in any space a colony occupies. Beyond the odor and structural staining, guano is the primary growth medium for Histoplasma capsulatum — the fungus responsible for Histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease that can be severe in immunocompromised individuals. Disturbing dry guano without proper protective equipment and decontamination protocol is dangerous.

• Structural Saturation

Over time, guano and urine saturate insulation, wood, and drywall, causing irreversible staining, odor penetration, and structural degradation. In long-established colonies, the weight of accumulated guano can stress ceiling drywall to the point of collapse.

• Rabies Risk

While the percentage of bats carrying rabies is low, any bat found inside the living space of a home — especially in a bedroom — must be treated as a potential rabies exposure. Florida health authorities recommend post-exposure evaluation if contact cannot be ruled out, particularly for sleeping individuals or young children.

• Parasite Load

Bat bugs — a close relative of bed bugs — inhabit bat roosts and will migrate into living spaces when a colony departs or is excluded. These parasites can bite humans and pets. A complete bat remediation must address the parasite load left behind, not just the animals themselves.

Understanding Batss in Central Florida

Several bat species are found in Central Florida, but the Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) and the Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis) are the species most commonly found roosting in structures.

The Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat is a colonial species that forms large maternity colonies — sometimes in the thousands — in attics and wall voids. They are fast fliers that emerge at dusk to feed on insects. Their guano is dry and granular, and it accumulates quickly in any confined roosting space.

The Evening Bat is a smaller species that typically forms smaller colonies. Like all insectivorous bats, it is ecologically valuable — a single bat can consume thousands of mosquitoes and other insects per night. This ecological importance is part of why Florida law prohibits the killing of bats and regulates their exclusion.

Bat exclusion is a specialized process. One-way exclusion devices allow bats to exit the roost at dusk but prevent re-entry. Florida law prohibits exclusion during the maternity season (April 15 through August 15) when flightless pups are present in the roost — excluding adults during this period would trap the young inside to die. Timing is therefore critical, and any company performing bat exclusion outside of legal windows is operating unlawfully and creating a secondary dead-animal contamination problem.

After exclusion, all entry points must be permanently sealed, and all guano must be safely removed and the space decontaminated. Simply excluding the bats and leaving the guano in place is an incomplete and ongoing health risk.

Why Critter 911 Is the Right Choice

• Flat-rate pricing — no hidden fees or escalating costs

• Lifetime renewable warranty on all exclusion work

• We do not push unnecessary services to pad the bill

• We guarantee to meet or beat any written estimate for the same work

• Fully trained, licensed, and insured

• A+ rated — Google, Angie's List, BBB

• 21 years in business — 3,000+ Central Florida neighbors served

Bat situations require licensed professionals with specific expertise. Call Critter 911 today at 407-719-6221. We will inspect your structure, determine the species and colony size, and walk you through the legally compliant exclusion process — completely and correctly.

Call Now: 407-719-6221 | Free Inspection | Flat-Rate Pricing | Lifetime Warranty