Now is the time to plan for bat maternity season

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Florida is home to 13 native bat species and, while they usually roost in natural areas, such as trees, caves and similar spaces, they sometimes take shelter in human-made structures. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages people to inspect homes and other buildings for roosting bats before the maternity season begins. Florida's bat maternity season runs each year from April 16 through Aug. 14, when most native bats give birth and raise their young.

In Florida, it is illegal to kill or harm bats. To help address conflicts with bats in buildings, exclusion guidelines were developed to safely and effectively remove bats from structures outside the maternity season. During the maternity season, blocking bats from returning to their roosts is illegal because it could trap flightless young inside buildings, creating problems for both bats and people.

April 15 is the last day bats may be excluded from a home or building without a permit. Before maternity season begins, conduct a final spring inspection to identify and seal potential entry points after confirming no bats are present. To legally remove bats outside of maternity season, exclusion devices - tools that allow bats to leave without allowing them to return - must be installed on key exit points, left up for a minimum of four nights, and exclusions must be conducted when the overnight temperatures are forecast to be 50ºF or above.

Bats provide important ecological and economic benefits, saving farmers billions of dollars each year in pest control. Around the world, they play a vital role in helping control insect pests and by acting as pollinators and seed dispersers. Bat guano can also be used as a valuable natural fertilizer. All of Florida's bat species eat insects, and a single bat can consume hundreds of insects each night, including mosquitoes and other pests that affect gardens and agriculture.

Florida's native bat populations include endangered species such as the Florida bonneted bat. There are several ways that Florida residents and visitors can help our bats:

• Preserve natural roost sites, including trees with cavities or peeling bark.
• Leave dead fronds on palm trees to provide roosting spots for bats.
• Add native plants when landscaping your property to attract native pollinators and benefit bats.
• Install a bat house on your property.
• Do not bring equipment, clothes, or shoes that have been in caves in other states into Florida's caves.
• Report unusual bat behavior and sick or dead bats to MyFWC.com/BatMortality.

For more information about how to properly exclude bats and other tips to bat-proof your home, visit MyFWC.com/Bats. If you have questions or need more assistance, contact your closest FWC Regional Office to speak with a wildlife assistance biologist.