Bat removal in Riverview, FL
Bat removal in Riverview is about timing as much as technique. Bats are protected in Florida, so we get them out with one-way devices on a schedule that keeps the pups safe, then seal the roof so the colony can’t move back in.
- Exclusion only, never harm
- Scheduled around pup season
- Guano cleanup available
Ask about bats at your home
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 Riverview, FL through exclusion. After an inspection, we install one-way devices at the gaps bats are using, let them fly out on their own, then seal the openings so they can’t return. We never do exclusions during Florida’s bat maternity season, April 15 through August 14. Call or text (321) 203-6963, or email critterguyswildlife@gmail.com, to get on the schedule.
Why bats settle into Riverview roofs
Bats in Riverview have plenty to eat. The Alafia River, Bell Creek, the wetlands toward Balm and the ponds behind so many subdivisions all produce clouds of insects on warm evenings. What bats need after a night of feeding is a tight, dark, warm space to sleep through the day, and a house roof often fits the bill.
Brazilian free-tailed bats and evening bats are the ones we see most in Florida buildings. They slip in through gaps as small as a thumb’s width: under barrel tile at the ridge or eave, behind loose fascia, in the seam where a soffit meets the wall, or through a gable vent with a torn screen. Once a few find a good spot, more follow.
A bat colony is good news for your yard, just not your attic
Bats eat huge numbers of mosquitoes and other insects. The point of bat removal is to move them out of your house, not out of the neighborhood. A bat house mounted on a pole or tree away from the roof gives them somewhere else to go.
Bat work waits for the pups to fly
That’s Florida’s bat maternity season under FWC rules. Pups can’t fly yet, and excluding the adults would trap the young inside. If you call us in the middle of summer, we’ll inspect and plan, then do the exclusion as soon as the window opens.
On the job
How to tell you have bats
Bats are quiet and you rarely see them indoors, so the clues are mostly outside.
Little dark pellets under one spot
Bat guano piles up below the entry, on a window sill, the lanai floor or the top of the AC unit. It crumbles into dust when pressed, unlike rodent droppings.
Stains around a gap
Brown, greasy smudges on the fascia or stucco near the roof line, from bats rubbing past as they come and go.
A stream of bats at sunset
Stand outside at dusk and watch the roof. Bats leaving one corner in a steady line is about as clear a sign as it gets.
Squeaking in the wall
High-pitched chatter from inside a wall or ceiling, especially late in the afternoon before they head out.
A musty, ammonia smell
A big colony leaves a strong odor that can drift into rooms near the roost.
Riverview homeowners who called about bats
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
★★★★★
Kevin did a great job. He arrived promptly and kept me informed through the process.
Debbie ViscardiGoogle review
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Bat roosts we see around Riverview
Some Riverview homes, especially in the gated and higher-end communities, have barrel tile roofs, and barrel tile is one of the most common bat roosts we find. The curved tiles leave open channels along the eaves and ridge unless they were capped properly. Shingle homes along the older streets near US 301 tend to have bats behind loose fascia and in gable vents instead.
We also look at the setting. A house near open water or the preserve edges sits right on top of good feeding grounds, which makes it a likely roost if there’s any gap at all. Townhome buildings and HOA clubhouses get bats too, and those often need a bigger plan since one colony can spread along a shared roof. For more on what we handle across the area, see our Riverview animal removal page.
Riverview at a glance
- Shingle and barrel tile roofs
- Feeding grounds along the Alafia River
- Ponds and wetlands near most neighborhoods
Our bat removal steps for Riverview homes
Exclusion is the only legal way to remove bats in Florida, and it’s also the method that works.
Inspect and map the gaps
We find where bats are getting in, plus every other gap they could switch to. Missing one means the colony just moves over.
Seal the secondary gaps
Openings bats aren’t actively using get sealed first, so the main entry is the only way in and out.
Install one-way devices
Exclusion devices go over the active entries. Each evening the colony heads out to hunt insects, and the devices stop them from crawling back in.
Close it up for good
After the colony is out, we remove the devices and seal those last openings. Our wildlife exclusion work in Riverview covers longer-term reinforcing if the roof needs it.
What to do if a bat gets inside your house
It happens, usually when a bat takes a wrong turn from the attic. Stay calm and follow these steps.
- Get kids and pets out of the room and close the door.
- Open a window or outside door in that room so it can fly out.
- Never pick a bat up with bare hands.
- If anyone may have had contact with it, talk to your doctor or the county health department.
- Call us so we can find how it got inside.
Bat removal in other Tampa Bay towns
More wildlife services for Riverview
Riverview bat removal questions, answered
Don’t see your question? Call or text (321) 203-6963 and ask a real person.
Can you get bats out of my Riverview home in June?
Not with an exclusion, because June falls inside Florida’s maternity season, which runs April 15 through August 14. We can still inspect, seal gaps the bats aren’t using and plan the work. The exclusion goes in once the season ends.
How much does bat removal cost in Riverview?
Pricing depends on the size of the colony, how many gaps need sealing, roof type and height, and whether guano cleanup is needed. Tile roofs with lots of open eaves usually need more sealing than a simple shingle roof.
Is bat guano dangerous?
It can be. Bat guano can carry the fungus that causes histoplasmosis, and disturbing a dry pile can put spores in the air. Our Riverview attic cleanup team removes it with the right protection and sanitizes the area.
How many nights do the exclusion devices stay up?
Usually several nights, so every bat in the colony has a chance to leave. After we’re confident the roost is empty, we come back to seal the final openings. The bat work we do around Orlando follows the same schedule.
Where do the bats go once they’re out of my roof?
They’ll look for another roost nearby, often a tree, a bridge or a bat house if you put one up. Sealing your home properly means they won’t be able to return to your roof.
Can I seal the bat holes myself at night?
Please don’t. Some bats stay in the roost overnight, and young may be inside. Sealing without one-way devices traps them, which is illegal in Florida and usually leads to dead bats and odor in the walls.
Seeing bats leave your roof at dusk?
Call or text (321) 203-6963. We’ll come out to Riverview, confirm what you’ve got, and plan an exclusion that fits the season.