Bats in the attic: when you can remove them in NJ

Why bats are handled differently

Bats are beneficial and, in New Jersey, protected. Several species are in decline, so the state regulates how and when they can be removed from a building. That’s not red tape for its own sake, it’s also what keeps a bat problem from turning into a much worse one.

The maternity season is the key

Through the summer, female bats gather in maternity colonies to raise pups that can’t yet fly. During that window, exclusion is restricted, because sealing the roost traps the flightless pups inside. They die in the attic, which is inhumane, illegal, and creates a serious odor and staining problem, and desperate bats can end up in your living space trying to get out.

How humane exclusion works

Done at the right time, exclusion doesn’t harm a single bat. One-way devices are installed at the entry points so bats can leave to feed but can’t get back in. After enough time to be sure the colony is out, the devices come off and every gap is sealed. Then the attic is cleaned of guano.

What to do right now if you have bats

• Don’t seal anything yet. Timing is legally sensitive and sealing at the wrong point traps pups.
• Note the entry. Watch at dusk for where bats fly out, a gable, ridge or fascia gap, but don’t block it.
• Handle a stray bat carefully. A bat in a bedroom is a possible rabies exposure. Confine it to one room, don’t release it, and contact your local health department about testing if anyone may have been bitten or was asleep in the room.

Why the guano matters

Accumulated bat guano can carry a fungus linked to a lung infection, so cleanup should be done with proper protection, not a shop vac and a dust mask. A full job removes the guano, disinfects the roost, and seals it so no colony returns.

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