Louisville, KY — Homeowners with bat problems have only a few weeks left to act. Once nighttime temperatures consistently drop below 50°F, bats will enter hibernation (torpor) inside your attic.

In Kentucky, the window for legal bat exclusion is closing fast. We typically stop performing exclusions around mid-November, depending on the weather.

Why Winter Exclusion is Impossible

Bat exclusion relies on the bats leaving the attic on their own to feed at night. We install one-way devices (valves) over their entry holes. They fly out, but cannot fly back in.

In winter, this process fails because:

1. No Insects: There are no flying insects to eat, so bats do not leave the roost to feed.
2. Hibernation: Bats enter a state of torpor to conserve energy. They may sleep for weeks or months without moving.
3. Trapped Inside: If we install exclusion devices in winter, the bats will simply stay inside and sleep. If we seal the holes, we trap the colony inside. They will eventually die of starvation or dehydration, leaving you with a massive odor problem and a legal violation (as bats are protected).

The Consequences of Waiting

If you miss this fall window, you will likely have to wait until April or May 2026 to address the infestation.

• You will have a colony of bats living in your attic all winter.
• On warm winter days, bats may wake up and move around, sometimes finding their way into the living quarters of the house.
• Guano (droppings) will continue to accumulate.

What We Can Do Now

If you call us before the freeze:

1. Inspection: We can verify if the bats are still active.
2. Exclusion: If weather permits (nights above 50°F), we can install the one-way doors immediately.
3. Sealing: We can seal all the other potential entry points now, leaving only the main exit open, so we are ready to install the valve on the first warm day of spring if we miss the fall window.

Do not wait until you hear scratching in the walls. Call Critter Removal of Louisville today to schedule your inspection before the cold sets in.