Bat Maternity Season is Over! Now’s the Time for Removal and Exclusion!
Bat Maternity Season is Over! Now’s the Time for Removal and Exclusion!
Bat maternity season is when bats are giving birth and raising their flightless pups, and the end of bat maternity season is marked by the pups learning how to fly and leaving the nest. Removing bats during the maternity season will often lead to deaths of the pups, which is why bat removal is illegal during this time. However, it is also illegal to remove bats during their hibernation season, as this can also kill them. Late Summer and Early Fall is the perfect sweet spot to remove bat problems, as it’s right between the end of maternity season and the beginning of hibernation season. Westchester Wildlife can help, we can safely remove and exclude bats from your property in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties.
What is Bat Maternity Season?
Bat Maternity Season is defined as late spring through early summer. Typically, bat maternity season will start in the middle of April, when pregnant female bats begin roosting together and preparing to give birth. When the bats are born, they are flightless and rely totally on their mother. Throughout the summer, the baby bats will get stronger and more capable, and the maternity season ends when the baby bats are able to fly on their own. This is usually around mid-to-late August, and by the time September rolls around, bats can be safely removed from your attic space in Westchester.
Why Bat Removal Must Wait Until After Maternity Season
Bats cannot be removed during the maternity season, as it runs the risk of orphaning the pups or trapping the pups inside your walls where they will most likely die. Bats and their pups are under federal protection, due to their ecological importance and their endangered status. Bats are crucial for pollination and seed dispersal of our most precious crops, and they are also fantastic pest control agents, eating up to thousands of mosquitos per night. Unfortunately, their habitat is shrinking due to deforestation, and their population is in danger due to the onset of white nose syndrome, a fungal disease that can take out entire cave’s worth of bats. Protecting healthy bat populations is important, which is why it is highly illegal to remove bats during their maternity or hibernation season.
Why Right Now Is the Best Time for Bat Removal
September is the perfect time for bat removal, as both adult bats and their pups are able to fly, making safe exclusion possible. As September arrives, the colder weather of fall is not far behind, and this cold weather will make bats seek out places to hibernate for the winter. Removing the bats from your attic and sealing up all the entry points can ensure that you aren’t hosting a colony of hibernating bats all winter.
Signs You May Have Bats in Your Attic
Bats are nocturnal, and will be most active at dusk and dawn when they are entering and exiting your attic space. During these times of day you might hear high-pitched squeaks or fluttering and flapping noises coming from your attic space. You might spot guano piles in your attic insulation, or staining/grease marks around rooflines and vents. Bat guano and urine can leave a strong, foul ammonia-like smell coming from your attic space.
How Professionals Remove Bats Safely
Westchester Wildlife is your number one team of bat removal and exclusion professionals in the Westchester area. Company owner Jim Driesacker invented the Batcone and Pro-cone, which are industry tested humane bat removal and exclusion products for both residential and commercial use. These products are placed on the main entry point used by bats, and it allows the bats to exit the attic space, but not get back inside. The bats will move on and find a new home, with no harm done. After the entire bat colony is removed, our team will seal up the main entry point, excluding the bats and ensuring that they can’t get back inside.
Preventing Future Bat Infestations
The best way to prevent future bat infestations is to have bat experts like Westchester Wildlife install chimney caps and vent covers, and to seal roofline gaps. Having regular roof inspections done can also keep a lid on the situation, as we can seal up any gaps before they become a potential problem. Regular seasonal checkups before the blackout periods of maternity season and hibernation season can give you peace of mind that you don’t have a bat colony roosting inside your home.
Best Bat Removal in Westchester County
Now is the perfect time for safe, effective bat removal services in Westchester County. Maternity season has ended, and the pups are now able to fly, but we also haven’t quite hit the cooler temperatures that mark the beginning of hibernation season. Westchester Wildlife are your number one bat experts in the Westchester County area. We can safely and humanely remove and exclude bats from your attic space, ensuring that they are not harmed. Contact us today to get started with a FREE estimate at (800) 273-6673!