Bat Maternity Season Ending: What Homeowners Need to Know
Florida’s bat maternity season closes on August 14 each year, which means legal exclusion work can start back up on August 15.
The rule, in plain terms
Florida’s bat maternity season runs April 16 through August 14 each year. Under Florida Administrative Code 68A-9.010, it is illegal to exclude or evict bats from a structure during that window. Legal exclusion using one-way devices can only happen August 15 through April 15, and devices must stay up at least 4 consecutive nights with overnight lows forecast at 50°F or above.
Why the closed season exists
Bat pups cannot fly for several weeks after birth. Sealing a roost during maternity season traps flightless pups inside, which is both inhumane and illegal under Florida law. The closed season protects pups until they are old enough to leave on their own.
What to do if you have bats right now
If you have an active colony, the right move during the closed season is documentation, not action: note the entry points and roughly how many bats you see at dusk, and book the exclusion for as soon after August 15 as scheduling allows.
Regulatory note
Florida’s bat maternity season runs April 16 through August 14 each year. Under Florida Administrative Code 68A-9.010, it is illegal to exclude or evict bats from a structure during that window. Legal exclusion using one-way devices can only happen August 15 through April 15, and devices must stay up at least 4 consecutive nights with overnight lows forecast at 50°F or above. Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Rules can change; call FWC or check myfwc.com for the current version before relying on this for a specific situation.