Upcoming Bat Maternity Season Leaves Florida Locals Last Few Days for Blocking Roosts

Only a few days remain in Florida before the start of the bat maternity season. These are the last few days that the residents can legally prevent bats from returning to roosts located in residential areas.

Being a Sunshine State local means coexisting with a variety of animals.

This week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued a crucial reminder that Florida's bat breeding season officially begins on Saturday, April 15, which is this week.

Locals have until that time to "exclude," which is the legal term for removing and blocking bats that are roosting in their homes or other structures.

Bat Maternity Season in Florida

According to the FWC, there are 13 native and beneficial bat species in Florida, and they usually roost in trees, caves, or other outdoor areas.

However, because they are easier to access, they can also be drawn to man-made structures, particularly those that are under significant construction.

Through August 14, bats are in their maternity season, when they give birth and rear their offspring. It is forbidden to keep bats from their roosts during that time. The FWC warned that if bats are not allowed inside during the breeding season, their flightless young may become trapped inside the building and perish, which would be bad for both humans and bats.

This is why exclusion devices can only be used from August 15 through April 15. Outside of those times, permits are needed to use exclusion devices.

The only legal and most efficient way to get rid of bats from houses or other structures is with exclusion devices, which let bats safely leave a structure but prevent them from going back to their roosts.

Blocking Bats from Roosts

To ensure that bats are excluded from buildings outside of the maternity season safely and effectively, exclusion guidelines were created because it is illegal to kill or harm bats in Florida.

Finding all potential bat access and exit points inside a building is the first step in the multi-step process of bat exclusion. In order to legally and properly exclude bats from houses or buildings, exclusion devices should be installed on important exit points, remain in place for at least four nights, and be used when the predicted overnight temperature is 50°F or higher.

Roles of Bats in Florida

As the US Fish and Wildlife Service noted, bats are advantageous from an ecological and monetary standpoint. Because of their roles as pollinators, seed dispersers, and insect pest controllers, and because their guano can be used as fertilizer, they perform vital services on a global scale.

As insectivores, Florida's bats can consume hundreds of insects each night, including mosquitoes or other pests of gardens and farms.

The native bat populations of Florida include critically endangered species like the Florida bonneted bat, News4 JAX reports.

Helping Bat Populations

According to the FWC, there are numerous ways for Floridians and tourists to contribute to bat conservation. Preserving natural roost locations, such as trees with cavities or peeling bark, is part of this. To provide bats with places to roost, locals are also urged to consider leaving dead fronds on palm trees. Some locals also install bat houses on their properties.

Locals are encouraged to report any unusual bat behavior and any sick or dead bats to wildlife officials.