Bats

– Watch for dusk flights from the roofline.
– Look for dark droppings near attic access.
– Listen for scratching in attic at dusk.

Exclusion only — do not attempt extermination (bats federally and state protected); one-way exclusion tubes or netting installed outside maternity season (before June or after August); guano remediation requires N100 respirator and HEPA vacuum. Bats are protected, so you cannot kill them. The only legal fix is to let them leave on their own. A pro puts one-way doors over the gaps they use. The bats fly out at night but cannot get back in. This is done when no baby bats are present. Cleaning the droppings needs a mask and care.

We use one-way exclusion doors outside pup season. We then clean guano with HEPA gear.

– Seal all gaps larger than 3/8 inch on roofline, fascia, and chimney before bat season.

– Never handle a bat with bare hands — treat any potential bite exposure as a medical emergency.

– Schedule exclusion outside the June–August maternity period when pups cannot fly.

– Ventilate attic and dehumidify after guano removal to discourage mold growth.

– Erect bat houses nearby after exclusion to provide alternative roost sites.

– Seal gaps larger than three eighths inch before bat season.

– Schedule exclusion outside June through August.

– Put up bat boxes after safe exclusion is done.

Colonial roost in attics, behind shutters, in wall voids, and under eaves; single-family colonies of dozens to thousands; maternity colonies (June–August) are federally protected during pup season. Bats roost in attics and behind shutters. They like warm, dark, quiet spots. A roost can hold just a few bats or many. They fly out at dusk to feed on bugs. Most come back to the same roost each night.

Bats roost in Portland attics and eaves. They show up most in warm months.