Time Left for Bat Exclusions

Only a month to go!

With what, you ask?  Bat exclusions.

By Ohio law, from May 16 through July 31 colonies of 15 bats or more cannot be excluded from structures except with very special permission from the Division of Wildlife.

Ohio’s laws recognize the ecological importance of bats and are written to protect them.  The prohibition on kicking bats out of a structure from the middle of May through (at minimum) the end of July protects flightless bat pups that are born during this period. Bat pups have low birth rates and fairly high mortality rates as it is.  Taking steps to keep their mothers away from them is a death sentence.  That is why the law assumes that any gathering of 15 bats or more in a structure has female bats and babies; a maternal colony.

This box of bats you see to the right was removed from a home last week– early April.  With a group like this it is safe to assume that they are females and would have given birth in that attic this late spring/ early summer.  Had we been called to this home in mid-May, the bats would have stayed put until August at the earliest.  But, since we were able to get them out and bat-proof (make modifications so they can’t get back in the structure) well before the cut-off date, the homeowner doesn’t have to fret over bats in the house through the summer.

Therefore, if you believe bats are an issue in your home it is better to act sooner rather than later.  Right now, Frontline Animal Removal can remove and exclude bats and send them on their way to another place.  But, time is running out for a complete eviction.

Ohio Laws Seek to Protect Bats

All bats in Ohio are protected.  That means it is illegal to harm or kill a bat unless a bite or a potential exposure to a bite has occurred.  The nuisance wildlife laws relating to bat removal, therefore, are set up around this principal.

But, don’t take our word for it alone.  See for yourself by looking at the bat section from Ohio’s Nuisance Animal Wildlife laws (specifically the bat section) which we have excerpted here.

5) Bats

(a) It shall be unlawful to euthanize or kill a bat unless a bite or potential exposure to rabies has occurred. Any bat killed or euthanized must be reported to the local health department by the affected landowner or their designated agent by the end of the next business day.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a licensed commercial nuisance wild animal control operator to charge a fee or receive compensation to perform bat exclusion, unless exempted from certification in paragraph (J)(1) of this rule,

(c) It shall be unlawful to fail to inspect the structure for the presence of bats prior to performing bat exclusion. In addition, if no bats are observed when the structure is inspected, from May sixteenth of each year through July thirty-first of each year, it shall be unlawful to fail to perform or have performed a minimum of two bat watches over a seven day period prior to performing a bat exclusion.

(d) It shall be unlawful to perform a bat exclusion on a structure where fifteen or more bats are present or observed from May sixteenth of each year through July thirty-first of each year without prior written permission from the chief of the division of wildlife or their designee.

(e) For the purpose of this rule “bat eviction” or “bat exclusion” is defined as the act of installing a device or materials for the purpose of removing bats from a structure.

(f) For the purpose of this rule “bat watch” shall be defined as the act of observing a structure to document whether bats are emerging from or entering the structure. Such observations shall be for the period of one-half hour before sunrise to one hour after sunrise or the period of one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunset.

Bat Removal & Exclusion | Akron, Canton, Kent

If you are reading this after the May cut-off date, don’t despair.

Just because it is illegal to kick out bats from a maternal colony, it does not mean that nothing can be done.

For us, it means we take a pause from some steps of our bat removal work.

For our customers who realize in late May that they have a fair number of bats living in the attic and want them out right now, it often means short term disappointment for them when we explain the situation.  Nobody wants to hear that the bats need to be left in the attic for now.

Since you suspect a problem exists, now is the time to:

• Get an inspection.  Knowing the extent of the problem and where the entry/exit points is vital information.
• Get on the schedule.  Once September rolls around, we can begin bat exclusions in earnest.  Letting them out and not back in can be accomplished throughout the Fall.
• Get a head start.  If conditions permit, we can get a head start on the exclusion.  All possible entries need shored up and made “bat proof”.  If the job is large, the main entries can be left alone for now, but the other areas currently not in use can be closed off–even now.  It’s like putting up a fence but leaving the gates open for now.

Remember, if the inspection/bat watch reveals a small number of bats, these non-maternal colonies can be kicked out.

And for those who have a maternal colony, but believe they really need to go, it is possible to ask the Ohio Division of Wildlife for permission to exclude them even now.  The way we read it, the exception will only be given if human health or safety is at risk and excluding the bats is the only way to reduce this risk.

This exception to the rule is considered on a case by case basis through application.  That application can be found here. There are two pages.  Click on the first page to toggle to the second.

Bat Proofing  | Akron, Canton, Kent

No matter what time of year it is Frontline Animal Removal can help you with your bat issues.

We appreciate bats and bat-free human spaces.  Navigating the bat/human conflict in an ethical manner make us a better nuisance animal removal business.   Call us today to see how we can help.