Understanding Bat Maternity Season in Connecticut: What Homeowners Need to Know
For homeowners in Ridgefield, CT, discovering bats in the attic can be a startling experience. While addressing the issue promptly is important, understanding bat behavior—especially their maternity season—is crucial for humane and legal removal. At American Bio-Tech Wildlife Services, with over 50 years of humane wildlife control experience, we believe in educating you to ensure the best outcome for both your home and these beneficial creatures.
What is Bat Maternity Season?
Bat maternity season refers to the period when female bats gather in colonies (often in warm, sheltered spaces like attics) to give birth and raise their young. During this time, baby bats, called pups, are born and are completely dependent on their mothers for survival. In Connecticut, bat maternity season typically runs from early May through mid-August.
Why Maternity Season Matters for Bat Removal in Connecticut
During maternity season, it is illegal and inhumane to perform full bat exclusion (sealing all entry points). Here’s why:
Pups Cannot Fly: Baby bats are unable to fly for several weeks after birth. If their mothers are excluded, the pups would be trapped inside your attic, leading to starvation and ultimately, death. This creates a heartbreaking situation and a significant odor problem.
Legal Protections: Most bat species, including the Little Brown Bat and Northern Long-Eared Bat common in Connecticut, are protected by state and federal laws due to declining populations. Disrupting a maternity colony during this time is prohibited.
Mother Bats’ Desperation: Excluded mother bats will frantically try to get back to their young, often finding new, unexpected ways into your home, potentially even into living spaces, creating more problems.
What Ridgefield Homeowners CAN Do During Maternity Season
Even if full exclusion isn’t possible, you don’t have to ignore a bat problem during maternity season. Here’s how American Bio-Tech Wildlife Services can help, even during this sensitive time:
Thorough Inspection: We can conduct a detailed inspection of your Ridgefield property to confirm bat presence, identify all entry and exit points, and assess the scope of the colony. This prepares us for humane exclusion once the season ends.
Preparatory Work: We can perform any necessary repairs or sealing of secondary entry points that don’t trap bats inside.
Guano Cleanup Planning: We can plan for the safe and complete removal of bat guano (droppings) and full attic restoration once the bats are gone, mitigating potential health risks.
Education and Monitoring: We’ll provide guidance on how to safely coexist with the bats until the season is over and discuss what to expect.
Patience is The Key
Once mid-August arrives and the young bats are capable of flight, our team at American Bio-Tech Wildlife Services can implement our humane, one-way exclusion devices. These allow bats to leave your Ridgefield home to feed, but prevent them from re-entering. Following this, we permanently seal all entry points and offer our unique 20-year, fully transferable warranty on bat remediation services – a testament to our confidence in a lasting solution.
Acting responsibly during bat maternity season ensures the survival of these vital insect-eaters and protects you from legal repercussions.
If you suspect bats in your attic, especially during maternity season, call the experts at American Bio-Tech Wildlife Services today for a humane solution and a free inspection. We’re here to help you navigate this process safely and effectively.