The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced on Mar. 11 that residents should inspect homes and buildings for roosting bats before the start of the annual bat maternity season, which runs from April 16 through August 14. During this period, most native bats in Florida give birth and raise their young, making it illegal to block them from returning to their roosts.
This guidance is important because excluding bats during the maternity season could trap flightless young inside buildings, creating risks for both bats and people. The FWC said that April 15 is the last day bats may be excluded from a home or building without a permit. “To legally remove bats outside of maternity season, exclusion devices – tools that allow bats to leave without allowing them to return – must be installed on key exit points, left up for a minimum of four nights, and exclusions must be conducted when the overnight temperatures are forecast to be 50ºF or above,” according to the commission.
Bats play an essential role in Florida’s ecosystem by controlling insect pests and providing economic benefits such as saving farmers billions of dollars each year in pest control. All of Florida’s bat species eat insects, with a single bat able to consume hundreds each night. Some species are endangered, including the Florida bonneted bat.
The FWC recommends several ways residents can help local bat populations: preserving natural roost sites like trees with cavities or peeling bark; leaving dead fronds on palm trees; adding native plants when landscaping; installing a bat house; avoiding bringing equipment used in out-of-state caves into Florida’s caves; and reporting unusual bat behavior or sick/dead bats at MyFWC.com/BatMortality.
The FWC has been influenced by figures such as Lovett Williams, recognized for his contributions to wildlife research as highlighted on its official history page. The agency secures external grants representing over 40% of its funding to support critical research projects according to its official website. It also promotes public access and input in decision-making processes to foster conservation among diverse communities according to its official website.
Research facilities such as the Wildlife Research Laboratory in Gainesville include offices, animal holding pens, specialized equipment for wildlife studies as noted on its official history page, an alligator egg incubator, and wildlife holding pens originally used for brown pelican restocking as described on its official history page. The FWC seeks to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s fish and wildlife resources through research and technical expertise according to its mission page.
For more information about how to properly exclude bats or tips on bat-proofing homes, residents can visit MyFWC.com/Bats or contact their closest FWC Regional Office.
