Bat removal in Lakeland, FL
Bat removal in Lakeland is a timing job as much as a building job. Florida bats are protected, so we move the colony out with one-way devices, on a schedule the law allows, and then shut the roost for good.
- Exclusion only, no harm to bats
- Timed around maternity season
- Guano cleanup available
Book a Lakeland bat inspection
Tell us what you are hearing or seeing. We will get back to you, set up a visit and give you a straight answer on what it takes.
- Firm quote before any work starts
- Call, text or email, your pick
- Licensed and insured in Florida
Quick answer. Critter Guys handles bat removal in Lakeland, FL through exclusion. We find the roost and every gap the bats use, install one-way devices so they fly out at dusk and can’t return, then seal the building and clean the guano. Florida bats are protected, so we never exclude between April 15 and August 14. Call or text (321) 203-6963.
The bat calendar drives everything
Florida protects its bats, and the FWC sets a maternity season from April 15 through August 14. During those months females are giving birth and nursing pups that can’t fly yet. Excluding a colony then would trap the young inside, so it isn’t allowed and we won’t do it.
That leaves two working windows: late summer through early spring, and the stretch before mid April. If you find bats in June, we can still inspect, confirm the species and roost, and line up the exclusion for the first legal day. Many Lakeland homeowners use the waiting months to plan the repair and cleanup side so everything happens in one push.
What you can do during maternity season
Leave the roost alone, keep gaps near living areas closed off from inside, and don’t spray or try to flush the bats out. If one ends up inside the house, call us rather than handling it.
Never handle a bat with bare hands
Rabies shows up in Florida bats more than in most wildlife, even though the vast majority never carry it. A bat on the floor, in a bedroom or near a sleeping child deserves care: don’t touch it, and talk to your doctor if anyone had contact. We can get it out safely.
Out in the field
Bats over Lakeland’s lakes and rooftops
With 38 named lakes plus wetlands at Circle B Bar Reserve and the old phosphate pits around Tenoroc, Lakeland produces a lot of night-flying insects. That’s a good food supply for Brazilian free-tailed bats and evening bats, the two species we most often find roosting in Florida buildings.
By day they need a tight, warm crack to sleep in. In Lakeland that’s often the gap under barrel tile on south side homes, a loose soffit return on an older house downtown, or expansion joints and flashing on commercial buildings along the I-4 and Polk Parkway corridors. Our Lakeland wildlife removal team sees bats in all three.
Around Lakeland
- Polk County
- Insects off 38 named lakes
- Barrel tile roofs on newer homes
- Warehouses along I-4
Signs of a bat colony in a Lakeland building
Bats are quiet and tidy compared to rats, so the clues are subtle.
Dark pellets under one spot
Guano looks like mouse droppings but crumbles to a dusty powder. It piles up under the exit on a ledge, lanai or driveway.
Brown stains around a gap
Body oils leave a smudge at the entry point, often at the top corner of a soffit or under a tile edge.
Squeaks inside the wall at dusk
A colony chatters and shuffles just before it heads out to feed.
Bats pouring out at sunset
Watch your eaves from the yard right around sunset. A steady line of bats leaving one gap means there’s a roost behind it.
A musty ammonia smell
Large or long-term colonies leave a strong odor that can reach the living space.
Lakeland reviews for bat exclusion
4.9
141 reviews on Google
★★★★★
Called Critter Guys through a recommendation from my sister in Lakeland after we saw a squirrel peaking out from a hole above the garage at my mother’s home in Riverview. My sister had the same issue at her Lakeland home. We got an appointment for the Riverview house right away and Craig came out to do an assessment and estimate. The price was reasonable and Craig was very professional and friendly. He quickly assessed the issue and found 4 holes in the roof. He set up traps and came back a few days later. During that waiting time one of the traps in the attic caught a mouse. So, when he came back, he sealed off 3 of the holes and set up a one-way trap in the 4th hole to draw out any remaining critters. He’ll come back in 2 weeks to close off the remaining hole. He also gave us a 30 day warranty if anything else happens. So far we haven’t seen or heard anything else. I’m very happy with the service received and would highly recommend this company.
Pramela IttoopGoogle review
★★★★★
Josh from the Critter Guys did an excellent job explaining the process for removal of bats. He emphasized the humane aspect by coming back several times to ensure that all the bats were no longer on our property. He then sealed all opening to our soffit and removed the bat trap. Josh went beyond what we expected. When we called to provide updates he always answered and listened to us. I highly recommend this company and a huge shout-out to Josh. Thank you Critter Guys Humane wildlife services for a job well done.
Joe RaspantiGoogle review
★★★★★
These guys are absolute professionals 10 out of 10 service. We would definitely recommend.
Joanna ErricoGoogle review
Read every review on Google or see more Critter Guys reviews
How we handle bat removal in Lakeland
Bat exclusion is about patience and making sure every bat ends up outside.
Inspect and map the gaps
We find the main exit and every secondary crack the colony might use, from soffit returns to tile edges. Bats can get through very small openings.
Seal everything but the exits
Secondary gaps get closed first. The active exits get one-way devices that let bats drop out but not crawl back in.
Wait out the colony
The devices stay up for several nights so every bat leaves on its own. Nothing is sealed until activity stops.
Close and clean
We remove the devices, seal the exits and clean the guano. Heavy buildup goes to our Lakeland attic cleanup service.
Real exclusion versus quick fixes
A lot of bat jobs we see in Lakeland started with something that didn’t work.
| Quick fix | What we do |
|---|---|
| Sealing the hole at night | One-way devices so bats leave first |
| Ultrasonic repellers | Physical exclusion, then sealing |
| Mothballs or sprays | Guano removal and sanitizing |
| Working in summer | Waiting until after August 14 |
Other wildlife help in Lakeland
Bat removal in nearby cities
Bat Removal in Lakeland: quick answers
Don’t see your question? Call or text (321) 203-6963 and ask a real person.
How much does bat removal cost in Lakeland?
It depends on the size of the colony, how many gaps need sealing, how high the roof line is and how much guano has built up. You’ll have a written plan and quote before we start. Smaller, newer colonies are usually simpler jobs.
Can you remove bats from my Lakeland house in July?
Not by exclusion. Florida’s bat maternity season runs April 15 through August 14, and excluding during that window would trap nursing pups inside. We can inspect in July and schedule the work for the first legal date.
Is bat guano in the attic a health risk?
It can be. Bat guano can carry the fungus that causes histoplasmosis, and disturbing dry guano puts spores in the air. Don’t sweep it yourself; we remove it with proper protection and sanitize the area.
What kind of bats live in Lakeland buildings?
Brazilian free-tailed bats and evening bats are the species we find most often roosting in Florida buildings. Both eat large amounts of insects, which is one reason the law protects them.
Do you remove bats from businesses and HOA buildings?
Yes. Warehouses, office buildings and townhome rows often have expansion joints, flashing and soffit gaps bats love. We handle commercial and HOA bat work around Lakeland the same humane way.
Will bats come back after exclusion?
Not if every gap is closed. Bats return to familiar roosts, so the seal has to be complete and done with lasting material. That’s why our wildlife exclusion in Lakeland covers the whole roof line, not only the main exit.
Bats in the roof? Start with an inspection
Text or call (321) 203-6963 and we’ll identify the roost and lay out a legal exclusion plan. We use the same approach as our Orlando bat removal crew.