Homeowners often find themselves asking, “What time of year are bats most active?” closely followed by, “How do bats get into homes?” and “How can I get rid of bats?” These questions usually arise when homeowners discover signs of bat activity, such as scratching sounds in the attic or wall cavities, or perhaps a bat finding its way into living spaces. Knowing when bats are most active is not only useful for understanding their habits but also critical for planning humane bat removal in St. Paul and beyond. That’s where expertise, like what we offer at Skedaddle, becomes invaluable. 

Spring and Its Fateful Awakening

Bats become increasingly active in early spring, as temperatures rise, and their primary food source—flying insects—comes back in abundance. After a long winter spent in hibernation, bats awaken with renewed energy and hunger, emerging from their roosts to hunt and drink. This is the period when you’ll likely observe their activity at dusk, as bats are nocturnal creatures. 

Notably, in places like St. Paul, bats often hibernate through the colder months in spaces such as attics and walls, where they can stay warm and protected. However, what many homeowners are unaware of is that bats can squeeze through openings as small as 6 millimeters, about the size of a dime. Entry points often include vents, chimney gaps, soffits, and cracks along the roofline. Once inside, they may remain inconspicuous until spring when their heightened movements bring increased attention to their presence. 

Unfortunately, spring can also be when families realize they need help. Scratching noises in wall cavities or seeing bats emerge from your home at dusk often mean there’s a colony nearby. This is where a thorough inspection by professionals like Skedaddle becomes essential. Not only do our trained technicians identify entry points, but they also create a humane removal plan specifically attuned to the bats’ natural cycles.

Summer and Maternity Season

Summer marks a pivotal time for bat colonies, as females prepare for and care for their young. Female bats give birth to one pup between early June and mid-July. During this period, they roost in warm, quiet spaces, making attics an ideal location. It’s common for homeowners to see increased activity in the evenings as adult bats venture out in search of food while leaving their young in these secure settings.

Maternity season poses unique challenges for humane bat removal. Attempting to remove bats during this time carries the risk of separating mothers from their pups, which can have devastating consequences. Young bats, unable to fly yet, may be left orphaned inside the home. This is not only inhumane but also creates additional health and cleanup challenges, as abandoned pups could die within wall cavities or insulation. That’s why we emphasize waiting until the pups have matured enough to leave the roost on their own, typically around mid to late August. 

At Skedaddle, we understand the nuances of bat biology and coordinate removal efforts to align with these natural life stages. By installing temporary one-way doors at entry points, we ensure that bats can exit but not re-enter while keeping families of bats intact and unharmed.

Late Summer to Early Fall—Prime Time for Removal

August through September is often the ideal time to remove bats safely and effectively. By this point, the season’s young have grown capable of flight, enabling them to forage alongside the adult bats. Additionally, insect populations are at their peak, which means bats are leaving their roosts more frequently to feed. This increased movement provides the perfect opportunity to implement humane exclusion techniques.

It’s crucial to act during this window of time before the cooler autumn months set in. Bats will soon begin their preparations for hibernation, seeking steady, warm spots to conserve energy throughout the winter. If bats are still present in your home come fall, it will be far more difficult to address their removal until the following spring. The presence of a bat colony during the colder months could also amplify risks such as structural damage to insulation from accumulated droppings (guano) or health hazards like histoplasmosis, a respiratory infection caused by bat droppings.

During this prime removal period, Skedaddle technicians conduct a meticulous inspection of your property. Armed with ladders, safety gear, and years of experience, our team seals every potential entry point using our proprietary exclusion sealant, which is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. This ensures a long-term solution that keeps your home free from future colonies.

Winter Hibernation and Subtle Signs

Once temperatures drop significantly, bats enter hibernation to conserve energy. From late fall through early spring, bats rely on their accumulated body fat to survive the months when their insect prey all but disappears. They remain mostly inactive during this time, making it more difficult for homeowners to detect their presence. 

However, sudden temperature fluctuations inside homes can wake bats prematurely, which might cause them to unintentionally enter living spaces in search of warmth. Finding a bat in your basement or living room midwinter is often a surefire sign that more are hibernating inside your walls or attic. While this might seem like a convenient time to address the problem, bat removal cannot legally or humanely occur in most regions until the warmer months when bats naturally become active again.

This seasonal shift highlights the importance of winter preparation for springtime removal. By identifying entry points during the colder months and creating a comprehensive action plan, homeowners can be ready to act as soon as temperatures rise. Partnering with a professional wildlife removal team like Skedaddle ensures that planning and removal are seamless and stress-free.

Choose Skedaddle for Humane Bat Removal in St. Paul

Skedaddle is dedicated to providing humane and effective bat removal services tailored to the needs of homeowners. Our team of trained professionals understands the importance of preserving wildlife while protecting your home. Using industry-leading techniques, we safely and ethically remove bats, seal entry points to prevent re-entry, and provide thorough cleanup services to address any contamination caused by bat activity. With Skedaddle, you can trust that the process will be handled with care, efficiency, and respect for both your property and the environment.

Protecting Your Home Year-Round

Understanding when bats are most active is vital to protecting your home. From spring through early fall, timing matters when it comes to planning humane removal. Whether you’re hearing scratches in your attic during summer or finding droppings near vents in winter, these signs suggest that bats have entered your property and require immediate attention.

At Skedaddle, our method combines humane practices with decades of experience. We focus on locating and addressing every possible entry point while safeguarding your home against future invasions. However, it’s not just about exclusion and sealing cracks. Cleaning and sanitizing affected areas, such as removing droppings and replacing insulation, are equally critical to restoring your space safely.

By taking a proactive approach to inspection and removal, you can ensure your home remains bat-free year-round. If you’re in St. Paul or surrounding regions, contact us today to discuss your bat removal needs. It’s never too early—or too late—to make your home a safer, calmer environment.