Critter Control specializes in humane bat removal and prevention. There are six species of bats that are federally protected, and in Florida it is illegal to kill any bat.
Bat Identification
There are thirteen species of bats in Florida. The big brown bat and little brown bat are two of the most common species to roost in your attic.
Bats are the only flying mammal. They have fur on their torso and sometimes fur-covered heads. Bat wings do not have fur. Their pronounced wings are scalloped at the bottom and mimic the appearance of an old-fashioned umbrella's lower edge. These wings are hairless and protected by rubbery, leathery skin. Bats come in several colors, including black, brown, red, tan, and gray. In general, they have short snouts, large ears like a rodent, and fur-covered torsos. The smallest bats are roughly three inches long with an eight-inch wing span, while the largest may reach seven inches long with a wingspan two feet across.
Bat Control in Fort Lauderdale
The most effective and humane way to remove bats is by utilizing a bat valve in conjunction with a full home exclusion. A bat valve is like a one-way door. It allows for bats to exit your home but not re-enter. Since each bat removal is unique, our specialist will use or create a bat valve specifically for your home. Our inspector will determine the proper amount of bat valves to be used, but most removals only require one bat valve.
Bat Exterminator in Fort Lauderdale
It is illegal to kill bats in Florida.
Florida Administrative Code rule 68A-4.001 on General Prohibitions and 68A-9.010 on Taking Nuisance Wildlife says it is illegal to kill any bat. In addition, you can’t take, transport, store, buy, sell, or possess a bat at any time. Bats have additional protections during the maternity season. They cannot be harassed or encouraged to leave their roost in any way. In Florida, bats cannot be taken as nuisance wildlife, even if they are causing a nuisance.
Why Is It Illegal to Kill a Bat in Your Home?
In Florida, all bats are insectivores. They eat over a thousand insects every night. Can you imagine how many insects there would be on the planet if it weren’t for bats? We would be overwhelmed. For this reason, bats are essential for the survival of our ecosystem.
Bats are also excellent pollinators for bananas, cloves, and peaches. They are the only pollinator for agave, which has many uses, including making tequila. Bat species that eat fruits aid in seed dispersal and the continued growth of fruit plants.
Recognizing their importance, state and federal governments place protections on bats, making it illegal to kill them. That’s not the only reason bats are protected. A few more include the following:
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Bats do not reproduce as quickly as other wildlife. The females typically give birth to one or two pups a year. Slow reproduction puts the species at risk for population decline.
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Bats are killed by humans who do not understand their importance and likely do not know about the laws protecting the species.
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Wind turbines kill hundreds of thousands of migrating bats around the world.
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Pesticides used by farmers reduce the number of bugs available for bats to eat.
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Disturbances during hibernation cause bats to use up stored fat too soon, leaving them without a food source for the rest of the winter.
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White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease that spreads through bat colonies and has almost eliminated the Northern long-eared, little brown, and tri-colored bats.
Testimonials
Tom Hanson is awesome! We're renovating and the roof is opened up, so here come the rats. So gross. I contacted Critter Control via their website, got a call back within the hour, and Tom was on property the next morning. He studied our situation and gave thorough, thoughtful advice—which did not include using their services! Instead, he taught us how to manage the situation until we can deploy a more permanent solution. When the house is sealed up again, Tom and Critter Control will return to ensure the complete removal of all unwanted creatures. Thank you, Tom and Critter Control. We appreciate your great service!
Cooper was punctual, knowledgeable, and reassuring. His trained eye noticed things we would not have seen. His investigation was thorough and answered all of questions. Highly recommend.
Terrific. Kind, quick, reliable, reasonable. Knowledgeable and professional staff. Highly recommend. Thank you for your work on our properties. S
Critter Control has solved my problems for several years. I would recommend them to everyone. Their representatives are always prompt, knowledgeable, courteous and very helpful in solving problems.
Raymond was very pleasant and knowledgeable. He paid attention to detail. Good Job!! Thankyou!!
I am so glad I had Critter Control come and inspect my house! The problem was located and fixed immediately and since then I have not had any more problems with bats. Money well spent!!!
I connected Critter Control Orlando and was surprised, though elated that an actual person quickly answered. She was pleasant and efficiently scheduled a visit to my house to solve my varmit problem. The appointment was the next day. As arranged, I got a call from Ryan the next morning to tell me his eta. He arrived right on time and after explaining the procedure, got right to work. After a survey of our attic, he told us the problem and gave us a price to fix it. He explained exactly what would be done and an approximate number of visits it would take. I found Ryan to be easy to communicate with and an excellent customer relations person. I will be recommending Critter Control to my friends and neighbors.
We had a raccoon in the attic and this team of professional workers caught him after days of detective work. It was a pleasure working with them and having them at my house. I especially want to thank John and Kenzie!
After months of fighting moles in our yard ourselves and with the help of a landscaper, with no success, Critter Control caught a mole within a week. Very reasonably priced and very thorough. They’re the experts! We should have called them a lot sooner.
Justin was very professional and he and his team did the work quickly and thoroughly. This is a nice company to work with.