Bat removal in Winter Haven, FL
Bat removal in Winter Haven is common for a simple reason: bats feed over the lakes every night, and they need somewhere close by to sleep during the day. Too often, that’s your roof.
- Legal, humane exclusion
- Never during maternity season
- Roost found, gaps sealed
Bats leaving your roof at dusk?
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 does bat removal in Winter Haven, FL by exclusion. We locate the roost, close the side cracks, and fit one-way devices on the active exits so the colony flies out and can’t get back in. Then we seal the last openings and clean up the guano. No exclusion happens between April 15 and August 14. To set up a roost inspection, reach us by phone or text at (321) 203-6963.
Lake country is bat country
Winter Haven has around 50 lakes in or bordering the city, linked by canals into the northern and southern Chains of Lakes. All that open water and the wetlands around it put out a steady supply of insects, and bats take full advantage. Brazilian free-tailed bats and evening bats, the colonies we run into most in Florida buildings, hunt over Lake Howard, Lake Eloise and the rest at dusk.
When the sun comes up they want a snug, hot gap to hang in. Around Winter Haven that’s often under barrel tile on newer homes, inside boathouse eaves, behind loose soffit returns on older homes in Interlaken, or in expansion joints on commercial buildings along US 27 and Cypress Gardens Boulevard. See our Winter Haven wildlife control page for the other animals we handle around the lakes.
Winter Haven field notes
- Polk County
- About 50 lakes in and around town
- Insects rise off the Chain of Lakes
- Tile roofs and boathouse eaves
When bat work can and can’t happen
Florida protects bats, and the calendar decides when exclusion is allowed.
| Time of year | What we can do |
|---|---|
| August 15 to April 14 | Full exclusion with one-way devices |
| April 15 to August 14 | Inspect and plan, no exclusion |
| Any time | Remove a single bat loose in the house |
| After exclusion | Seal exits and clean guano |
On the job
Why maternity season changes the plan
From April 15 through August 14, female bats in Florida are having and nursing pups that can’t fly. The FWC doesn’t allow exclusion during that window, because putting one-way devices on the roost would let the mothers out and leave the pups trapped inside.
If you notice bats in May or June, call anyway. We can inspect, confirm what you have and where they’re getting in, and schedule the exclusion for the first legal day in mid August. That also gives time to plan any repairs and cleanup so it all happens together.
Winter Haven signs of bats in the roof
Bats are tidy and quiet compared to rodents, so these are the clues to watch for.
Small dark droppings that crumble
Guano collects below the exit, on a lanai, window sill or boat dock, and turns to powder when pressed.
Dark smudges at a gap
Oils from their fur stain the edge of a tile, soffit or vent where they squeeze through.
Chattering in the wall before sunset
Colonies get noisy right before they head out over the water.
Bats streaming out at dusk
Sit out back as the light fades and keep an eye on the eaves. Bats leaving the same spot one after another means a roost.
A strong ammonia smell
Big or long-standing colonies leave an odor that can reach the house.
Winter Haven bat job reviews
4.9
141 reviews on Google
★★★★★
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
★★★★★
Omygoodness I never thought I would have to meet Craig but I did! And he was amazing! He immediately answered the phone, told me what he could do / when he would arrive and followed through with what he said. He was prompt, courteous and put me at ease! God willing I will never need him again but if I do I will not hesitate to call him!
Amina AhmedGoogle review
★★★★★
These guys took care of a pest problem we had in our community of townhomes outside of downtown Orlando. Extremely effective, highly professional, and overall pleasant & fair.
Ryan HoestenGoogle review
Read every review on Google or see more Critter Guys reviews
Bat removal process at Winter Haven homes
Exclusion is about getting every bat out before anything is closed.
Find every gap
We go over the roof, soffits, vents and tile edges looking for the busiest exit plus any other crack the colony could use. An opening barely wider than a pencil can be enough.
Seal secondary openings
Everything but the active exits gets sealed so bats are funneled to the one-way devices.
Install one-way devices
Bats drop out to feed and can’t crawl back in. We leave the devices in place for a stretch of nights, until nobody is coming or going.
Seal and clean
Then the devices come down, the final exits get closed and the guano gets cleaned. Heavier buildup goes to our Winter Haven attic cleanup service.
A bat inside the house is a different call
If a bat ends up in a living room or bedroom, shut that door and call us. Don’t pick it up barehanded. Rabies turns up in Florida bats more than in most wildlife, so if anyone was bitten or scratched, check in with a physician.
Related wildlife services in Winter Haven
Bat removal around Polk County
Questions about bat removal in Winter Haven
Don’t see your question? Call or text (321) 203-6963 and ask a real person.
What does bat removal cost in Winter Haven?
It comes down to how big the colony is, how many cracks we need to close, how tall the roof is and how much guano is waiting. We inspect the roost first and hand you the plan and price before touching anything. A colony caught early is almost always the cheaper job.
Can you get bats out of my Winter Haven home in June?
Not with exclusion. Summer falls inside the protected maternity window, when pups are still too young to fly, so one-way devices aren’t allowed. We can still come out in June, confirm the roost and put you on the calendar for mid August.
Why are bats roosting in my lakefront home?
Bats feed on insects over open water, so homes near the Chain of Lakes are convenient roosts. A small gap under a tile, in a soffit return or at a boathouse eave is all they need.
Is bat guano a health concern?
It can be. Dry guano can hold the fungus linked to histoplasmosis, and stirring it up sends spores into the air. Our crew bags it out wearing respirators and then disinfects the spot.
What keeps the colony from moving back into my roof?
A complete seal. Bats remember a good roost and will test the old spot, so every crack has to be closed with material that lasts. We go over the whole roof line instead of patching one hole, often as part of our Winter Haven wildlife exclusion work.
Do you remove bats from commercial buildings?
Yes. We handle bat exclusion for businesses, HOAs, townhome communities and property managers. Larger buildings often have expansion joints and flashing gaps bats love.
Bats over the lake and in the roof?
Text or call (321) 203-6963 and we’ll come check the roost. We use the same legal exclusion methods as our Orlando bat removal team, and also cover Lakeland.