Bat maternity season begins in a few weeks. What experts say you need to know

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — It’s almost bat maternity season, the time of year where bats are protected by law.

That means they cannot be touched, even if they are on your property or in your roof.

Those who have bats at their home, experts said the time to call is now. They said people should walk around the house, check open vents, the roof and any open holes to make sure.

“The homeowners that have bats during maternity season, my heart goes out to them,” Dustin Hooper said.

In just a few weeks, the maternity season begins.

“During those few months, you can’t touch the bats, unless you get special permission from FWC if it’s a health issue,” Hooper said.

Dustin Hooper has had his business, All Creatures Wildlife Control, for decades. He said it’s rare the FWC gives permission to have the bats removed.

The bat expert said each bat has just one baby and they all need their mothers.

“You have to protect the bats; we need bats for the environment. We don’t need them in our house, that’s a health issue, they carry more than just rabies, but that’s why they have them protected during these months,” he said.

He said the law is people cannot capture bats, even outside of maternity season.

“That’s ridiculous, they need to let us capture bats. The argument that they had a couple of years ago, well if we take bats from the city and put them in the green swamps, you’re going to contaminate the green swamps, that is ridiculous,” Hooper said.

They have to hang a net or some type of valve system where the bats can come out, but can’t get back in. He said by law, the net or valve system has to be up for four days.

Personally, he said he prefers to use plant canvas and black foam to exclude the bats.

“Well, what are they going to do? They are going to go to the other side of the house, the neighbor’s house, down the street,” he said. “Everywhere they go they contaminate that area with their feces and their urine and it’s just a mess.”

Those who have bats will be able to see their droppings and will be able to hear them.

“If you have a bat colony in your house, you’ll hear it. I mean it’s just chu-chu, crazy noises,” Hooper said.

According to Hooper, all the phone calls will start rolling in soon and pick right back up in August.

Maternity season for bats starts on April 15 and lasts until Aug. 15.

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