Bats can be found in Raleigh throughout the year, but they’re most likely to invade your attic and become a nuisance during their maternity season. Bat maternity season is when female bats gather to give birth to pups and raise them until they can fly on their own. Colonies of bats will seek a sheltered place to raise their young during this season. Unfortunately, the shelter offered by our attics is just as good – if not better – than the caves and tree hollows that bats are used to.
Bat maternity season in Raleigh generally lasts from May through August. The start and end of bat maternity season can vary based on such factors as unseasonably cold weather, population size of prey insects like mosquitoes, and bats’ migration patterns. However, bat maternity season almost always falls during these summer months. Because bats are an ecologically beneficial species, they are protected by law in North Carolina from May 1 to July 31 – the majority of their maternity season. During this time, it is illegal to remove bats from your home.
There are some signs you can watch out for to identify when bat maternity season is starting. You’re more likely to see and hear bats around during this time, since female bats will be gathering food and water for themselves and their pups during this time. When you suddenly begin to notice large numbers of bats flying around and congregating near water, maternity season has probably started. If this happens on your property, it could be a sign that mother bats are roosting in your attic.
Since it is illegal to remove bats during their maternity season, your best option is to schedule bat exclusion services beforehand so that bats don’t make a mess of your attic. Contact Southern Wildlife Management today if you need reliable bat exclusion services in the greater Raleigh area!