Bat Removal and Exclusion: Finding the Way In and Keeping Bats Out

Bat removal is in high gear right now throughout Northeast Ohio, and at Frontline Animal Removal, we are busy performing bat exclusions in the Canton, Akron, and Kent area.

While getting bats out of a home is certainly part of the job, the real goal of bat removal is to solve the reason the bats are there in the first place.

That means finding out how the bats are getting inside, allowing them to leave safely, and then modifying the structure so they cannot simply come back.

This is what we call bat exclusion.

Bat Removal Is Really About Exclusion

Unlike raccoons or squirrels, bats do not chew their way into a building. They take advantage of openings that already exist.

Those openings can develop because of age, weather damage, building design, or poor installation. Sometimes an opening is obvious. Other times, it is surprisingly difficult to find.

Our main Bat Proofing page explains the basic principle: a successful bat exclusion involves making sure the bats are out and then sealing the structure so they cannot get back in.

The inspection is therefore one of the most important parts of the job.

We look for potential openings around roof lines, soffits, fascia, siding, flashing, vents, chimneys, ridge vents, and other areas where building materials come together. Small gaps that may seem insignificant to a homeowner can provide bats with access to a much larger sheltered space.

Once bats establish a suitable roost, they can continue returning to the same structure year after year.

There Is No Single Way to Bat-Proof a House

One of the things that makes bat exclusion interesting—and sometimes challenging—is that there is no universal repair that works on every house.

Every building is different.

Some bat problems involve gaps along a roof line. Others involve siding, soffit, fascia, flashing, vents, or openings around architectural features. Sometimes screening is the appropriate solution. Sometimes a piece of building material needs to be repaired or replaced. In other situations, small gaps need to be filled and sealed.

Our bat-proofing work commonly involves a combination of screening, structural repair, and careful sealing.

The important thing is that the repair matches the way the bats are actually using the structure.

Simply covering the most obvious hole is not necessarily enough.

A Bat Exclusion We Recently Put on Video

A recent job provides a good example of why identifying the specific entry point matters.

Ryan is working on a home with a metal roof, and the bats are actually getting into the roof assembly at the ridge.

In the video, he shows that the bats can be heard underneath the metal roof and demonstrates where they are entering and exiting. There is even a point where a bat comes out while he is working.

As you’ll see, the problem involves the foam blocking associated with the metal roof’s ridge vent.

A metal roof ridge is designed to allow the roof system to breathe. Foam pieces are supposed to be installed between the ribs of the metal roofing to allow the ventilation system to function while preventing bats and insects from getting through the openings. In this particular installation, however, the foam blocking is not installed correctly.

In some areas, the foam is simply missing between the ribs.

In other areas, foam is present but is positioned too high. That leaves enough room for bats to crawl around it and gain access underneath the roof. Ryan demonstrates exactly what is happening in the video.

This is a great example of why bat-proofing is not always as simple as finding a hole and filling it.

The problem is not necessarily that the roof itself is defective. Instead, the details of how the roof components are installed create an opportunity for bats to get where they should not be.

Repairing the Problem, Not Just Removing the Bats

On this particular job, the solution involves carefully taking apart the ridge cap so the improperly positioned or missing foam can be addressed. Of course, all the bats will be out when the final blocking mechanism is set.

Here’s what that looks like:

This is an important distinction between simply removing bats and actually solving a bat problem.

If we were to get the bats out but leave the openings unchanged, the house would still have the same problem. Eventually, bats could find the same openings—or discover another nearby weakness—and move back in.

The repair is what makes the exclusion permanent.

That is why Frontline Animal Removal approaches bat work as both wildlife removal and wildlife prevention. We are not just interested in getting bats out of an attic. We want to understand why they are able to get inside and determine what needs to change to prevent the problem from happening again.

Bat Cones and One-Way Exits

When appropriate, the primary bat entrances can be fitted with one-way exclusion devices such as bat cones or bat tubes.

These devices allow bats to leave the structure but prevent them from returning through that same opening. The bats leave on their own when they emerge to feed, while the exclusion device prevents them from simply flying back inside.

But these devices are only part of the process.

They are temporary tools used during the exclusion. Eventually, the primary entry points need to be permanently sealed or modified. At the same time, other potential entry points around the building need to be addressed.

This is particularly important because once bats are excluded from their primary entrance, they may begin looking for another way back into the structure.

Finding Every Possible Entry Point

A thorough inspection is therefore critical.

At Frontline Animal Removal, we look for evidence such as guano, staining, odors, and areas where bats are observed entering or exiting. We also examine the structure itself for potential openings. Our main bat-removal information explains that openings approximately the width of a pencil or greater can be important areas to investigate.

Sometimes the evidence is easy to see.

Sometimes it takes a careful inspection at dusk to determine exactly where bats are coming and going.

And sometimes, as the metal-roof example demonstrates, the problem is hidden within a building component that appears perfectly normal from the ground.

Bat-Proofing Requires the Right Repair for the Right Building

There are many ways to bat-proof a structure.

We may use properly installed screening where ventilation openings need to remain open. We may repair or replace damaged siding, soffit, fascia, or flashing. Small gaps can sometimes be filled with appropriate backer material and a quality exterior sealant.

The point is not to use one particular material everywhere.

The point is to understand how the building is constructed, understand how the bats are using it, and then make the appropriate modification.

That is what makes bat exclusion more than simply sealing holes.

We Are Busy Performing Bat Exclusions Now

Bat exclusion season is an especially busy time for us, and we are currently performing bat-proofing work throughout Northeast Ohio.

If you are hearing bats in your attic, finding guano around the outside of your home, seeing bats emerging from your roof, or simply suspect that bats are getting into your house, the first step is determining exactly what is happening.

For homeowners in Stark, Summit, and Portage Counties, Frontline Animal Removal provides bat inspection, exclusion, and bat-proofing services throughout the Canton, Akron, and Kent area.

And if you want to see one example of how complicated a seemingly simple bat entry point can be, be sure to watch our video showing the metal-roof ridge problem described above. It is a good illustration of what we mean when we say that successful bat removal starts with finding out how and where the bats are getting in—and then figuring out the best way to modify that area so they cannot get back in.

Bats are valuable wildlife, and we appreciate the important role they play in controlling insects. Our goal is not to harm them. Our goal is to help keep bats where they belong while keeping your home bat-free.

If you have a bat problem, give Frontline Animal Removal a call and let us take a look.