Bats driving you batty? Now’s the time to encourage them to relocate

ORLANDO, Fla. — If bats are driving you batty, wildlife officials say fall is the time to encourage them to relocate.

Excluding bats from structures in Florida is not permitted during the bat maternity season, which officially concluded Aug. 15.

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“Waiting until fall protects Florida’s beneficial bat populations by keeping them undisturbed while they give birth and raise their young, called pups,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said.

It is only legal to use exclusion devices, which allow bats to safely exit a structure without reentry, between Aug. 15 and April 15.

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Exclusion devices are the only legal and appropriate method to remove bats from your home or building, as it is illegal in Florida to kill or harm bats.

For more information on proper exclusion techniques and ways you can help bats in Florida thrive, visit MyFWC.com/Bats.

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