Bats in Ontario are protected by law. Killing, poisoning, or trapping them is illegal and ineffective. The only legal method is humane exclusion: one-way valves let bats leave on their own, and we permanently seal every entry point so they cannot return. Our team has refined this process across hundreds of homes and thousands of entry points in Grey Bruce Simcoe — and every job is backed by our Lifetime Warranty.
Bats are protected by Ontario law. Here's what that means.
Bats in Ontario are protected wildlife under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Killing them, poisoning them, or trapping them for relocation is illegal — and the fines are not small. Some species, like the little brown bat, are also listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, which adds another layer of protection.
What's left as the only legal path is humane exclusion: letting bats leave the building on their own and then permanently sealing every entry point so they cannot return. That's what we do, and it's what every honest bat-removal company in Ontario does. The legal complexity is one of the reasons most pest-control companies treat bats as an afterthought — and it's exactly why we focus on them.
Our 5-step exclusion process
- Free on-site inspection. We identify every entry point — they're often surprising. A typical home has 4 to 8 access points; older or larger homes can have 12 to 20 or more.
- One-way valve installation. Custom-fit valves go over the active entry points. Bats can leave but cannot re-enter.
- Wait period. Bats need to leave at their own pace. This typically takes two to six weeks — faster in the warm summer months when bats are active nightly, slower in the shoulder seasons. We monitor throughout.
- Final sealing. Every entry point — both the valve locations and any other gaps we identified during inspection — is permanently sealed with copper or stainless mesh, exterior-rated polyurethane sealant, and custom vent guards where needed.
- Walk-through and warranty registration. We walk the property with you, confirm every point is sealed, and register the work under our Lifetime Warranty.
What's included in our quote
A typical bat exclusion quote covers:
- Free on-site inspection
- Full identification of every entry point
- Installation of one-way exclusion valves
- Wait-period monitoring
- Permanent sealing of every entry point with appropriate materials
- Final walk-through inspection
- Lifetime Warranty registration
What's not included in a standard exclusion quote (separate services or referrals):
- Attic cleanup and guano remediation — see our attic cleanup service
- Insulation replacement — typically handled as part of attic cleanup
- Structural repairs — we refer to a trusted local contractor
Lifetime Warranty
If a bat re-enters through any point we sealed, we come back and do all the work necessary — at no extra cost. Forever.
The warranty covers every entry point we sealed, transfers to subsequent property owners (you don't lose it when you sell), and has no expiration. Full warranty terms are in our Terms of Service.
How long does an exclusion take?
A complete exclusion runs about five to seven weeks from the first call to the final inspection.
- Initial inspection: typically within three business days. Same-week service is the norm across Grey Bruce Simcoe.
- Valve installation and wait period: two to six weeks (timing depends on season — see the FAQ).
- Final sealing: one day on-site, scheduled after the wait period ends.
Ontario law restricts exclusion work during maternity season (May through early August) when flightless pups would otherwise be trapped inside. We plan around it. If you call during maternity season, we'll inspect, prepare a plan, and schedule the work for the moment the season ends.
When to call us vs. wait
A few common scenarios:
- You've heard scratching but haven't seen bats. Call sooner rather than later. The damage and contamination compound over time, and every season the cleanup gets more expensive.
- You've found a single bat in the house. Call us to inspect. A single bat indoors usually indicates a colony in the walls or attic. Don't try to "scare it out" repeatedly — that won't address the source.
- You see bats flying out at dusk from your house. Call immediately. That's an active colony, and the longer it's left, the more guano accumulates.
Pricing
Every home is different. The cost of an exclusion depends on home size, entry-point count, infestation duration, and whether attic cleanup is needed. We provide a free, detailed quote after a brief on-site inspection — no obligation.
Frequently asked
How do I know I have bats?
A few clear signs point to bats. The most obvious is seeing them fly out at dusk to hunt insects — stand outside at sunset and watch the soffit and roofline for 15 minutes. Other signs include scratching or clicking sounds in the walls or attic at dusk and dawn, dark oily stains near the soffit or fascia (bat fur leaves marks at entry points), small piles of droppings directly below those entry points, and a sharp ammonia smell in the attic or upper floors. Repeat indoor sightings matter too. One bat that flew in once is different from multiple sightings over weeks — the second pattern usually means a colony is roosting in the walls or attic. If you have any of these signs, book an inspection.
How do bats get into a house?
Bats squeeze through gaps as small as half an inch — about a centimetre. The most common entry point is the soffit-fascia junction, where the roof meets the wall. From there: unscreened roof vents, gable vents, chimney flashings where they meet the roof, loose siding seams, and unsealed dormer trim. Older Ontario homes are at the highest risk. Cedar shake roofs, century homes, and stone-construction houses all have natural gaps that bats find easily. Even newer homes with a single missing piece of trim or a lifted soffit corner can host a colony. The forensic-level inspection we do during a quote walks the entire envelope — every soffit, vent, joint, and flashing — because missing one access point means the exclusion fails. We typically find six to fourteen entry points on a single home.
What is the difference between bat removal and bat exclusion?
Removal alone means getting the current bats out. Exclusion means removal plus permanently sealing every entry point so bats cannot return. Removal alone is illegal in Ontario without exclusion — trapping and relocating bats violates the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and simply chasing them out without sealing the gaps means they return within days. Exclusion is the legal and effective method: we install one-way valves at active entry points so bats can leave but cannot re-enter, then seal every gap once the colony has cleared. This is what we offer. See our bat exclusion service at /services/bat-removal-and-exclusion for the full process. The lifetime warranty on the seal points is what makes exclusion worth doing once and properly.
Can I just chase a single bat out of a room?
Yes — a single bat in a room is manageable. Turn off all the lights inside the room. Open one window or exterior door as wide as it will go. Leave the room and close the door behind you. The bat will navigate to the airflow and dark exterior and leave on its own, usually within 15 to 30 minutes. Then call us. A single bat indoors is rarely a one-off — it usually means a colony is roosting in the walls or attic and one wandered down through a wall cavity or vent. Do not try to grab the bat with bare hands. The rabies risk is small but real, and any direct contact warrants medical attention. Do not swat at it or try to trap it in a container. Just let it leave.
Can I do bat removal myself?
Honest answer: yes for a single bat in a room (see the room-bat question above), no for an actual colony. Four reasons. First, safety. Dried guano releases Histoplasma spores that cause histoplasmosis, a serious respiratory infection — proper cleanup needs P100 respirators and Tyvek coveralls, not a household vacuum. Second, regulations. Improper exclusion during maternity season violates Ontario's Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, with penalties reaching $25,000 per offense. Third, complexity. Finding every entry point requires walking the entire roofline, soffit, and vent system with experienced eyes — most homes have six to fourteen access points, and missing one means the exclusion fails. Fourth, warranty. DIY work has no warranty if a bat comes back. We are not the only option, but pick a licensed wildlife specialist either way.