Silver Bullet Pest ControlWhen Can Bats Be Removed in New Jersey? Bat Exclusion Season Explained
Found bats in the attic and told you have to wait? New Jersey only allows bat colonies to be excluded at certain times of year. Here's the calendar month by month, why the rules exist, what you can do in every season — and how to get on the schedule for the next legal window.
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When is bat exclusion season in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, bat colonies can be excluded from buildings April 1–30 and August 1–October 15. Exclusion is not allowed May 1–July 31, while mothers are raising pups that can't fly yet, and from October 16 to March 31 it's restricted to protect hibernating bats — allowed only if acoustic surveys over at least 3 consecutive weeks show no bats are present. These dates come from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife. A single bat loose in your living space is different: it can be removed any day of the year. Silver Bullet Pest Control is licensed by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife — call 973-510-2585 to get on the schedule.
Bat exclusion calendar for New Jersey, month by month
What the rules allow, what bats are usually doing, and what makes sense for a homeowner or building manager in each part of the year.
| Month | Exclusion allowed? | What bats are doing | Good time to… |
|---|---|---|---|
| January – March | Restricted — only with 3+ weeks of acoustic surveys showing no bats | Hibernating. Some spend the winter inside buildings. | Get an inspection and a plan. Book an April date. |
| April | Yes (April 1–30) | Waking up and returning to summer roosts | Exclude the colony before pups are born. |
| May | No | Mothers gathering in maternity colonies | Inspect, plan, seal gaps into the living space. |
| June | No | Pups being born and raised | Book an August exclusion date. |
| July | No | Pups growing but many still can't fly | Last call to get on the August list. |
| August – September | Yes | Young bats are flying and leaving the roost at night | Exclusion and permanent sealing. |
| October 1–15 | Yes (through October 15) | Bats moving toward winter roosts | Finish exclusions before the window closes. |
| October 16 – December | Restricted — same as January – March | Settling in to hibernate | Inspect and plan for April. |
The dates in the "allowed" column are the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife's exclusion windows. Rules can be updated, so a licensed company should always work from the current guidance. Bat behavior varies by species and by year — the middle column describes the general pattern, not a promise about your building.
Why bat exclusion isn't allowed from May through July
In late spring, female bats gather in warm, sheltered spots — attics, wall voids, church steeples, barns — to form maternity colonies. Each mother usually raises her young in the roost, and for the first weeks the pups can't fly. The mothers leave at night to feed and come back to nurse.
One-way devices only work on bats that can fly out on their own. Put them up in June and the adults leave, but the pups are left behind with no way out and no mother coming back. They die inside the walls or attic. The mothers, meanwhile, are trying hard to get back to their young and may push into any gap they can find — including into bedrooms and living rooms.
That's why the state closes exclusion from May 1 to July 31. By August the young bats are flying, and the whole colony can be moved out with one-way devices.
Summer does not mean "do nothing." A summer inspection lets us find the openings, seal gaps bats aren't using, protect the living space and book your August date. See what we do while we wait.
Winter bat rules: hibernation and acoustic surveys
From October 16 through March 31, bat exclusion is restricted. Some bats spend the winter hibernating inside buildings, and a hibernating bat that's shut out in January has nowhere to go. It can't just fly off and find food in the cold.
The guidance allows winter exclusion only when acoustic surveys over at least three consecutive weeks show no bats are present. Acoustic surveys use detectors that pick up bats' calls, which are too high-pitched for people to hear. In practice, most homes with a summer colony wait for April.
Winter is still useful:
- The bats are quiet, so an inspection of the roofline and attic is easier to schedule.
- You can get a written plan and be first on the list for April 1.
- A bat that wakes up and turns up in your living space can be removed — that's never restricted.
Ask us whether winter work makes sense for your building.
What you can do about bats in each season
Spring (April)
Exclusion is open all month. If you saw bats last summer or fall, this is the window to get them out before the pups arrive. Book by March — April fills fast.
Summer (May – July)
No exclusion. Get the inspection done, have gaps into the living space sealed, keep attic doors shut, and lock in an August date.
Late summer & fall (Aug 1 – Oct 15)
The main exclusion season. One-way devices go up, bats leave, openings get sealed. Guano cleanup can follow.
Winter (Oct 16 – Mar 31)
Restricted. Inspect, plan and book April. If a bat shows up inside, call — that can be removed any time.
What goes wrong when bats are sealed in at the wrong time
Every year we get calls from people who blocked a hole themselves, or hired someone who didn't follow the calendar. This is what usually happens next.
Trapped Bats & a Bad Smell
- Pups or hibernating bats die inside walls or the attic
- Strong odor that lingers for weeks
- Stains on ceilings and drywall
Dead bats in a sealed wall can't be reached easily. The smell, staining and insects that follow often mean opening walls or removing insulation.
Bats Inside the House
- Bats appear in bedrooms, basements or stairwells
- Activity around attic doors, fixtures and vents
- Several bats inside over a few days
Bats shut out of their roost look for another way in — and sometimes that way leads into your rooms, which raises rabies questions for your family.
Breaking State Wildlife Law
- Bats are protected wildlife in New Jersey
- Killing or "taking" them is illegal
- Out-of-season exclusion goes against state guidance
Following the calendar protects the bats, your family and you. A licensed company should tell you plainly when the work can legally happen.
How to get on the bat exclusion schedule
Exclusion windows are short and busy. The earlier you call, the sooner your bats are out once the window opens.
Call in winter, spring or July
Call or text 973-510-2585. Winter and early spring calls go on the April list; calls from May through July go on the August list.
Inspection
We inspect the roofline, chimney, siding and attic, find the bat openings and estimate the size of the colony.
Plan & prep
You get a clear plan. Gaps bats aren't using — especially ones into the living space — can often be sealed right away.
Exclusion day
When the window opens, secondary openings are sealed and one-way devices go on the main exits for at least a week.
Seal & warranty
Once all bats are out, everything is sealed for good. Bat exclusion is backed by a 5-year warranty.
Why bats are protected in New Jersey
Bats are native nongame wildlife, and all native nongame wildlife in the state is protected under the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act. Killing or "taking" bats is illegal. Several bat species have declined badly in recent years, and the exclusion calendar is meant to protect the times when bats are most vulnerable: raising pups and hibernating.
Bats are also useful neighbors. They eat huge numbers of night-flying insects, including moths and other pests, over yards, rivers and wetlands all over North Jersey. The goal of an exclusion isn't to get rid of bats — it's to move them out of your building and keep them out.
- No poisons or lethal methods. They're illegal for bats.
- No glue boards or fly paper anywhere bats can reach them.
- No "just seal the hole" while bats are inside.
- Use a licensed company that follows the state's exclusion guidance. Silver Bullet Pest Control is licensed by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Get on the Bat Exclusion Schedule
Tell us the address and when you've seen bats. We'll inspect, explain the dates for your building and book the next legal window.
Good reasons to call now
- You saw bats leaving the roofline this summer
- You want to be first on the April or August list
- A church, school or business needs time to plan
- Gaps into the living space need sealing now
- A bat is inside the house today
Request Service
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Bat Exclusion Season FAQ
When is bat exclusion season in New Jersey?
April 1–30 and August 1–October 15. Exclusion isn't allowed May 1–July 31 and is restricted from October 16 to March 31.
Why can't bats be removed in the summer?
From May through July, bats are raising pups that can't fly. Excluding the colony then would trap the young inside, so New Jersey doesn't allow it.
Can bats be excluded in the winter?
Only in limited cases. From October 16 to March 31, exclusion is allowed only if acoustic surveys over at least 3 consecutive weeks show no bats are present.
Can a bat inside my house be removed outside the exclusion windows?
Yes. A single bat loose in your living space can be removed any time of year. The calendar applies to excluding a colony from the building.
What happens if bats are sealed in at the wrong time?
Bats, often pups, get trapped and die inside, causing odor and stains, and adults may find their way into the living space. It also goes against state wildlife rules.
When should I call to get on the August list?
As soon as you notice bats — spring or early summer is best, and July is the last practical chance. The fall window fills quickly.
What can be done while I wait for the window?
An inspection, a written plan, sealing gaps bats aren't using (especially into the living space), and booking your exclusion date.
Is it illegal to kill bats in New Jersey?
Yes. Bats are protected under the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act, and killing or taking them is illegal.
How long does a bat exclusion take?
The one-way devices stay up at least one week, and the openings are sealed for good only after all the bats are confirmed gone.
¿Cuándo se pueden sacar los murciélagos en Nueva Jersey?
Del 1 al 30 de abril y del 1 de agosto al 15 de octubre. De mayo a julio no se permite porque las crías no pueden volar. Llame al 973-510-2585 — hablamos español.
Bat exclusion across North Jersey
Based in Garfield, we inspect and exclude bats in these towns and across Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B