Bats in an Atlanta attic can’t simply be trapped and removed. They are protected by Georgia law, and for four months of the year the state advises against excluding them at all. Here’s how to confirm you have bats, why timing matters, and how removal is done correctly. Call (404) 647-6677 for an inspection.
Is it actually bats?
The clearest signs:
- Activity at dusk — bats leave through the same small gap in the roofline or soffit shortly after sunset and return before dawn.
- Droppings collecting below the entry point, on the ground, a ledge or the attic floor.
- Staining around a narrow gap where bats squeeze in and out.
- Scratching or squeaking in walls or the attic around dusk and dawn.
Daytime noise overhead usually points to squirrels instead, and heavy movement after dark to raccoons.
The legal calendar: April 1 – July 31
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, bat exclusions should be avoided between April 1 and July 31. That is maternity season: young bats can’t yet fly, so closing a roost traps them inside, where they die — and the problem becomes a dead-animal and odor problem instead.
Georgia DNR states that if an exclusion must be completed during this period, it must be done by a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator.
If a bat exclusion cannot wait until after July 31, ask any company you hire to confirm that it is a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator before work begins.
If you find bats between April and July, do not seal the openings. Exclusion in that window can trap flightless young, so wait until after July 31 unless a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator does the work. Call Pest Control Atlanta to discuss options.
How bats are removed correctly
The accepted method is exclusion with one-way exit devices, not trapping. A device is fitted over the entry point so bats can leave to feed at night but can’t get back in. Georgia DNR specifies these devices must not have sharp edges or gaps that could injure a bat’s wings or entangle it.
Once the bats are out, the entry points are sealed. Sealing before the bats have left traps them inside.
Pest Control Atlanta provides bat exclusion. Because timing matters, call (404) 647-6677 to talk through the timing for your home.
What they leave behind
A colony leaves droppings that build up over time. Don’t sweep, vacuum or disturb accumulated droppings yourself — handling them stirs up dust. Cleanup and any damaged insulation should be dealt with after the bats are gone and the building is sealed.
After the bats are out
Bats are one part of keeping wildlife out of a home. See our wildlife removal services for the other animals that get into Atlanta attics, or compare what you’re hearing in the pest library.
Schedule a bat inspection
Call (404) 647-6677.
Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bats in Your House?
