A custom box-flashing bat excluder allows bats to leave through an opening at the soffit and shingle junction without getting back inside.
Belleville, Trenton & Quinte West Bat Removal And Bat Control Specialists
Bat Control Specialists provides humane big brown bat exclusion and complete exterior bat-proofing for homes in Belleville, Trenton, Quinte West and nearby communities.
Complete bat control requires detailed exterior work. We seal the openings bats could move to, then install one-way excluders over the active entry points.
A Bat Control Specialists technician sealing a potential bat entry point above a window where the brick wall, soffit, and trim meet.The upper edge of the saddle flashing behind the chimney was caulked to close gaps and help prevent bat or mouse entry.The gutter had to be moved temporarily so this difficult-to-reach bat and mouse entry gap could be sealed properly with roof silicone.
This photo shows the hidden gap behind the electrical meter being sealed with foam before final caulking. Proper bat-proofing closes the deeper void first, then seals the exterior joint.
Custom metal flashing can be installed over rotted fascia, soffits, or siding to close bat entry gaps and help keep rain out of damaged areas.
The completed flashing repair closes the soffit-shingle gap while following the shape of the roof.One of our custom shorty bat excluders before installation on a Thornhill, Ontario home. This model is used for specific tight bat entry points where a full-size excluder is not the best fit.
A bat excluder has been installed at the base of the chimney over an active bat entry point. The surrounding flashing and chimney base were then secured to prevent bats from re-entering once they exited.
The custom bat excluder was positioned over the principal entry point before the surrounding gaps were permanently sealed.
After photo showing a ridge vent fitted with custom bat-proof screens. Ridge vents are common bat entry points when they are left unprotected or start to lift, warp, or separate from the shingles.
Custom aluminum flashing and bat-proof screening installed beneath a decorative metal ridge cap to permanently prevent bats from entering through the ridge vent while maintaining proper attic ventilation.
After photo of a repaired chimney with broken tiles and bricks removed and a custom metal pan installed over the top. This seals the chimney area and helps keep out bats, birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wildlife.
This after photo shows a chimney liner cap that has been screened to keep bats out, with the flashing properly caulked around the outer edges and around the collar for a clean, secure seal.
Belleville, Trenton & Quinte West Bat Removal
Big brown bats are the main species we encounter in homes throughout Belleville, Trenton and the more built-up parts of Quinte West.
A live Big Brown Bat found in a basement. Basement bats almost always entered the home around the roof before travelling through hidden wall cavities and emerging downstairs.
Big brown bats emerging from an active entry point between the shingles and soffit of an Ontario home. Roofline gaps are one of the most common ways bats gain access to attics.
They often live in small, highly transient groups inside rooflines, soffits, chimneys, walls and attic spaces. Homeowners may see only one bat inside and assume it came through an open door or window. In reality, a bat appearing indoors is usually evidence that bats are already living somewhere inside the structure.
We solve the problem by bat-proofing the entire exterior first, then installing humane one-way excluders over the principal active openings.
The bats leave. They do not get back in
Big Brown Bats in Belleville, Trenton and Quinte West Homes
Big brown bats are well adapted to towns, cities and residential neighbourhoods.
Buildings provide warm, protected spaces where they can roost throughout the year. They commonly use:
Soffits and fascia
Chimneys and chimney flashing
Siding-to-shingle intersections
Roof peaks and dormers
Ridge vents
Brick and stonework gaps
Openings around additions and porches
Big brown bat colonies are usually much smaller than the historic little brown bat colonies once associated with cottages and rural buildings.
Big brown bat colonies are usually much smaller than the historic little brown bat colonies once associated with cottages and rural buildings.
That does not make them less disruptive.
Even a small group can result in bats appearing inside bedrooms, hallways, basements and other occupied areas.
This graphic shows the common spots where big brown bats get into houses, including ridge vents, chimney flashing, dormer corners, soffit intersections and fascia gaps.
Big brown bats are also highly transient. They will move between several houses locally, and between several sections of the same house, they often leave temporarily and return later. That is why seeing only occasional activity does not mean the problem has disappeared.
WHERE BATS GET IN
How Bats Get From the Exterior Into Living Areas
Bats that show up inside come from the attic and roof areas and not through doors and windows left open.
This diagram shows the most common places bats enter a house, including gaps at the gable end, dormer rooflines, fascia and shingle edges, and where the soffit meets the chimney.
This cutaway image shows how bats travel from attic entry points down through wall cavities and framing gaps beside chimneys, pipes, wires, and ductwork, eventually reaching the basement and living areas.
This image shows the final stage of indoor bat movement, with bats coming up from the basement, traveling under the basement door, and ending up loose in the living space of the house.
They move down from attic and roofs through wall cavities, beside pipe wires, chimneys and ducts to open furnace rooms and unfinished basements. From there, they may emerge into occupied rooms.
In many homes, bats move beneath interior doors after entering a hallway, basement or utility area. A bat found in a bedroom did not need to fly through the bedroom window.
There is no such thing as a fluke bat through an open door or window.
When a bat appears inside, the building should be treated as being actively used by bats until the exterior has been properly inspected and bat-proofed.
Where Bats Commonly Enter Homes in the Bay of Quinte Area
Modern and older homes can both have bat entry points.
Dark oil staining around this soffit-to-brick opening showed repeated animal use. Bats were using the area, although much of the heavy staining was likely caused by the home’s significant mouse activity.
Bat droppings below this soffit-to-brick gap helped confirm it as the principal entry point and the location selected for the humane bat excluder.
A missing mortar joint between chimney bricks created a narrow opening that bats could use to enter the chimney or surrounding structure.
This open soffit-to-shingle intersection was identified as one of the principal entry points being used by bats.
A large gap between the wall flashing and porch roof on a Thornhill, Ontario home. Gaps like this can allow big brown bats to access hidden roof, soffit, wall, and attic spaces.
This chimney-top flashing was loose enough to be lifted by hand, leaving an opening beneath it.
The flashing around this solar-tube skylight was loose enough to fit several fingers underneath, creating a possible entry point for bats and mice.
This exposed framing gap beneath the shingles and fascia board created a protected opening that bats could use to enter the roof structure.
A missing drip edge has left the roof edge exposed to years of moisture intrusion, resulting in severe wood rot and a large hidden opening beneath the shingles.
This large separation between the chimney and brick wall created a serious exterior gap that could allow bats, mice, and other critters to enter the house.
Bat droppings below this soffit-to-brick gap helped confirm it as the principal entry point and the location selected for the humane bat excluder.
Bat entry point above window. Stain and scratch show this to be a repeatedly used opening probably by bats and mice.
The problem is rarely one dramatic hole. It is usually a collection of small gaps where different building materials meet.
Common openings include:
Aluminum soffits meeting brick or stone
Soffits meeting roof shingles
Siding meeting shingles
Dormer corners
Gable peaks
Chimney flashing
Ridge vent edges
Loose fascia
Roof vents
Gaps around additions and altered rooflines
Bats need very little room. A narrow opening that looks insignificant from the ground may be large enough to provide access.
PROBLEM, REPAIR, FINISHED RESULT
Broken caulking between the chimney brick and flashing has left an open gap that bats can use to enter the structure. Chimney flashing areas are common bat entry points when old sealant cracks, shrinks, or pulls away.
The upper edge of the saddle flashing behind the chimney was caulked to close gaps and help prevent bat or mouse entry.
Caption: Chimney flashing gap professionally caulked and sealed as part of a complete bat-proofing service.
A roofline gap between the fascia board and shingles can allow bats to enter the structure. These hidden openings are common bat entry points on Ontario homes.
Caption: A soffit-shingle junction gap being sealed with exterior caulking as part of a complete bat-proofing service.
The gutter had to be moved temporarily so this difficult-to-reach bat and mouse entry gap could be sealed properly with roof silicone.
A wide opening between the soffit and brickwork can allow bats, mice and other small animals into the structure.
Foam backer being inserted into a large gap between the brick and soffit before the final caulking is applied. Large openings like this need proper backing so the sealant can bond correctly and close the gap.
A wide bead of exterior sealant was applied along the soffit-to-brick intersection to close a gap that bats could use.
A gap in the fascia at the peak of the roof. Openings like this can allow bats to enter the roofline, soffit, attic, or wall spaces behind the exterior trim.
Loose fascia peak permanently secured with aluminum zip screws as part of a professional bat-proofing project.
This exposed framing gap beneath the shingles and fascia board created a protected opening that bats could use to enter the roof structure.
The exposed gap between the roof decking, shingles, soffit and aluminum fascia has been caulked and sealed to make the roof bat-proof.
A vulnerable gap beneath the roof shingles is permanently sealed to prevent bats from entering the roof and attic.
This large gap between brick wall sections was the main active entry point where bats were going in and out of the Omemee home, with mice also using the same opening.
A one-way bat excluder installed at the active opening while nearby soffit and brick gaps are sealed to prevent bats from re-entering.
A missing mortar joint between chimney bricks created a narrow opening that bats could use to enter the chimney or surrounding structure.
A gap in the chimney mortar joints being sealed with exterior-grade caulking to close a bat and mouse entry point.
How We Fix a Bat Problem
Professor Ben explains the first step in proper bat removal: bat-proof the house before excluding the bats.
After the house is bat-proofed, the active entry points are fitted with excluders so bats can leave safely without getting back in.
Our process is straightforward.
1. Inspect the Entire Exterior
We identify the principal active openings as well as the many secondary and potential openings bats could use.
Urine staining and discoloration on the stone peak below an active bat entry area. Bats were getting in where the aluminum soffit met the brick and stone wall near the upper roofline.
2. Bat-Proof the House
We seal the secondary gaps first.
Depending on the house, this may include:
Professional exterior caulking
Foam backer in deeper joints
Custom metal flashing
Ridge vent screening
Chimney repairs
Roof vent screening
Mechanical fastening of loose materials
Large gaps where soffits meet siding and trim are common bat entry points. These openings are being professionally sealed as part of a permanent bat-proofing project.
Install Humane Bat Excluders
The principal active openings are left temporarily available and fitted with one-way excluders.
The bats can leave normally but cannot get back inside.
A bat excluder installed over a gap where the soffit meets the brick wall beside a chimney. This allows bats to exit safely while preventing them from re-entering the home.This photo shows a bat excluder installed over a common bat entry point where the soffit meets the brick wall near a chimney. Gaps in this area are often used by bats to access attic or wall spaces. A properly installed bat excluder allows bats to leave the structure humanely while the rest of the home is inspected and sealed to prevent re-entry.
After photo showing a custom bat excluder installed over the roof edge opening bats were using. The excluder extends beyond the gutter and angles downward so bats can escape easily, but cannot get back inside.
Custom metal bat excluder installed on a wood-sided structure, allowing bats to leave through the active opening while preventing them from getting back in.
A custom aluminum bat excluder installed high at the gable peak of a house. These roofline areas are difficult to access and require a properly fitted excluder so bats can leave safely.
A humane bat excluder is installed only after the surrounding roofline has been bat-proofed.
Why Caulking One Hole Always Fails
A bat problem cannot usually be solved by sealing the first opening someone notices.
If the rest of the house remains open, the bats may move only a few feet and begin using another gap.
Successful bat control depends on understanding how the entire exterior fits together.
That means inspecting and repairing all the places where:
Soffits meet shingles
Siding meets roofing
Flashing meets masonry
Roof sections intersect
Vents connect to the roof
Exterior finishes overlap
Caption: Sealing a single gap where bats may be getting in will not solve a bat problem if the rest of the house has not been fully inspected and bat-proofed.
Caption: Before sealing any bat entry point, you need a proper plan to let the bats leave safely and prevent them from becoming trapped inside the house.
The average house has far too many possible bat entry points for a few sealed holes to solve the problem.
Common bat entry points on houses include soffit gaps, flashing details, dormer junctions, ridge vents, chimney mortar joints and roof intersections.
The one visible entry point is often only part of the problem.
Why General Wildlife Companies Often Fail at Bat Control
Many wildlife companies are trying to do a good job, but bat control requires a combination of bat knowledge and exterior construction skill that most general wildlife operators do not have.
We regularly speak with homeowners in Belleville, Trenton and Quinte West who have already paid another company and still have bats.
The usual problems include:
Only one opening was addressed
Plastic cones or mesh tubes were installed without complete bat-proofing
Ridge vents were ignored
Chimney flashing was not repaired
Soffit and shingle intersections were missed
Sealant was applied without proper preparation
No custom flashing was installed where it was needed
The company lacked the tools or construction experience to complete the work
Catching animals and repairing buildings are two very different skills.
Bat control is structural work. The entire exterior must be understood, accessed and repaired properly.
A wildlife company may be perfectly capable of removing a raccoon from an attic and still lack the construction ability required to permanently solve a bat problem.
Split image comparing a frightened surgery patient with a family doctor and a wildlife control technician holding a skunk, raccoon, and squirrel to show why bat problems need a specialist.
FAILED APPROACH VS COMPLETE BAT-PROOFING
Use a two-image comparison.
Cheap plastic bat excluders can break, collapse, or fail before the bat problem is solved. A proper bat exclusion device must be durable, weather-resistant, and installed as part of complete bat-proofing.
After photo showing a custom bat excluder installed over the roof edge opening bats were using. The excluder extends beyond the gutter and angles downward so bats can escape easily, but cannot get back inside.
Big Brown Bats Are Year-Round House Bats
Big brown bats may remain inside buildings throughout the winter.
They can hibernate in walls, attics, insulation and other protected parts of the structure. During mild winter weather, one may wake and move into the living space.
Summer and early fall are the busiest periods for indoor bat appearances, but winter sightings are also possible.
Big brown bats may:
Change roosting locations within the house
Move deeper into walls during temperature changes
Appear in finished or partially finished basements
Travel through open ceiling spaces
Move beneath interior doors
Reappear after being absent for weeks or months
This is one reason a single bat inside should not be dismissed.
Serving Belleville, Trenton and Quinte West
Bat Control Specialists provides humane bat removal and complete bat-proofing throughout:
Belleville
Trenton
Quinte West
Frankford
Bayside
Carrying Place
Brighton
Stirling
Foxboro
Corbyville
Consecon
The Bay of Quinte area
Napanee
Picton
Coburg
In the urban centres south of Highway 401, most residential bat problems involve big brown bats.
Farther north, especially around more rural, wooded and waterfront areas, little brown bat activity may become more relevant. This page, however, is focused primarily on the big brown bat problems we commonly find in homes throughout Belleville, Trenton and Quinte West.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of bats are most common in Belleville and Trenton homes?
Big brown bats are the species most commonly associated with houses in the built-up parts of Belleville, Trenton and Quinte West. Little brown bats were more common prior to white nose syndrome which had wiped out probably more than 90% of little brown bats in Ontario by 2013. They are showing signs of a strong rebound but are still mostly found further north in cottage country.
Does one bat inside mean bats are living in the house?
Usually, yes. A bat appearing inside is strong evidence that bats are using the structure. It should not be dismissed as a random bat that flew through an open door.
Can bats live in a modern house?
Yes we constantly work on new houses. Modern homes always contain tons of small openings where soffits, shingles, siding, brick, stonework and roof vents meet. Builders don’t think about (or probably care) about bats and mice getting into houses.
Can bats stay in the house during winter
Big brown bats that live in houses do so year round and will also hibernate inside your houses and may even appear indoors during winter.
Can you remove bats without harming them?
Yes. We bat-proof the house first and then install humane one-way excluders so the bats can leave but cannot return.
Why not just install a bat door?
A bat door alone does not prevent the bats from moving to another opening. The secondary and potential entry points must be sealed first.
A bat excluder positioned over the principal entry point is useless until the surrounding gaps are permanently sealed.
The bat excluder is now sealed into place with beige exterior caulking, closing the surrounding soffit-to-brick gaps which force the bats the use the excluder to leave the structure.
Do you remove single bats from houses?
No we focus on solving the structural bat problem through complete bat-proofing and humane exclusion rather than providing emergency single-bat removal.
Need Bat Removal in Belleville, Trenton or Quinte West?
Bat Control Specialists provides complete exterior bat-proofing and humane big brown bat exclusion.
We identify the active openings, seal the secondary entry points, install professional excluders and prevent the bats from moving to another part of the house.
Complete bat-proofing protects the entire structure rather than covering only one visible opening.
