If bats are getting into your house, attic, walls or living space, the problem is almost never one obvious hole.
Bracebridge and Muskoka homes often contain many hidden construction gaps that bats can use. Older cottages, lakefront homes, additions, chimneys, wood siding, soffits, fascia, roof intersections, vents, and complicated rooflines can all provide access. We find the active entry points, install humane excluders, and permanently bat-proof the structure so the bats cannot return.
Why Are Bats Living In Your Bracebridge Home Or Cottage?
Houses and cottages are built to keep out rain, wind, and snow — not bats. Small gaps around soffits, fascia, chimneys, roof intersections, vents, siding, flashing, ridge vents, dormers, and roof edges can provide access into attics, walls, roof systems, and eventually living spaces.
In Bracebridge and the Muskoka region, bat problems commonly involve both big brown bats and little brown bats. Big brown bats often live in buildings year-round and can go unnoticed for long periods because their colonies are usually smaller. Little brown bats can form much larger colonies, especially in rural, cottage, lakefront, and older structures. Once bats find a protected space inside a house or cottage, the problem does not fix itself. The structure has to be properly bat-proofed.
Signs You Have Bats.
Finding a bat inside your house
Bat poop outside
Bats living inside an attic.
Bat guano in the attic.
Bat hanging outside your house.
Bat urine staining and corrosion.
Bats commonly enter and exit through gaps where soffits, shingles and adjoining roof sections meet.
How Bats Get Into Bracebridge And Muskoka Homes
Bats do not chew their way into houses. They use existing openings caused by construction gaps, missing flashing, loose fascia, damaged vents, warped ridge vents, roof intersections, chimney gaps, siding gaps, and areas that have deteriorated over time.
Many of these openings are hidden under shingles, behind gutters, around chimneys, under roof edges, or high on the roofline where they cannot be seen from the ground. This is why bat removal is not about sealing one obvious hole. Proper bat control requires a detailed inspection of the entire structure.
Common Bat Entry Points We Find On Bracebridge Homes And Cottages
Chimney Flashing
Gaps around chimney flashing and masonry are common and often difficult to see from the ground.
Soffit/Wall intersection gaps
Gaps between walls and soffits are the #1 spot where bats gain entrance to houses.
Missing Drip Edge
Hard to see framing gaps left uncovered by the absence of drip-edge flashing can allow bats and other wildlife to enter the attic
Gas Fireplace Vents
Factory vent covers may contain openings large enough for bats to roost inside or behind the vent assembly.
Dormers and Roof Intersections
This gap between the soffit and roof shingles on a dormer was being actively used by bats to enter the home.
Gas Furnace Vents
Warped, lifted, or damaged vents can create concealed openings on the roof.
Ridge Vents
Removing the ridge cap reveals a large hidden gap along the roof peak. Openings like these commonly allow bats to enter attic spaces unless properly screened and bat-proofed.
Roof Vents
The lower edge of this plastic roof vent has been damaged, creating an opening large enough for bats to enter the attic.
Chimneys
An uncapped chimney flue and deteriorated chimney crown. Chimneys in this condition can provide access for bats, birds, squirrels, and other wildlife.
Found a Bat Inside Your Living Space?
What does it mean?
If a bat has appeared in a bedroom, basement, bathroom, or living space, it usually means bats are already living somewhere in the structure. The bat likely came out of your walls and attic, into unfinished area like a basement or furnace room and then become lost inside the home.
Removing the single bat does not solve the problem. The house still needs to be inspected to find out how bats are getting in and how they are moving through the structure.
One of the biggest mistakes in bat removal is focusing on a single visible opening. Successful bat control requires identifying all the active entry points, locating all possible entry points, and sealing them before bats discover them.
If even one opening is missed, bats can continue to access the structure.
“Bat control is 1% exclusion & 99% prevention work.”
Benjamin Vaughan. Founder Bat Control Specialists
1. Inspect the Home
We inspect the roofline, chimney, soffits, fascia, vents, siding, flashing, roof intersections, for all possible entry points.
Inspecting houses for bat entry points is largely done high up at the tops of ladders and on roofs.
Searching for hard to find bat entry points on roofs
2. Install Humane Bat Excluders
Where bats are actively entering, we install one-way excluders that allow bats to leave safely but prevent them from getting back in.
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.
A bat excluder installed at peak of roof to allow bats to leave while preventing them from re-entering the home.
Not all bat excluders are the same. Wildlife companies frequently use cheap plastic excluders and wildly dangerous excluders made of mest.
We caulk, seal, screen, fasten, repair, and reinforce the vulnerable areas so bats cannot return.
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.
Bat exclusion work being completed at the upper roofline of a home. Bats often enter through small gaps around fascia, soffits, gable peaks, dormers, and roof intersections.
4. Guarantee the Work
We give you a lifetime guarantee that we fix the problem!
Bat removal is very different from raccoon, squirrel, or skunk work.
Bats do not chew their way in, and their entry points are usually high up, hidden under shingles, behind flashing, around chimneys, along roof edges, and in areas only accessible with tall ladders and roof access equipment.
Many failed bat jobs happen because the obvious gaps were sealed while the actual entry point was never found. A proper bat removal job requires a detailed inspection, humane exclusion, and complete bat-proofing of the home.
The Two Bat Species Found In Bracebridge And Muskoka Homes
In Ontario houses, the two bat species homeowners are usually dealing with are big brown bats and little brown bats.
Big brown bats often live in buildings year-round. They may use walls, attics, roof systems, basements, and other hidden spaces. They usually form smaller colonies and can go completely unnoticed by homeowners for long periods. They are more often found in towns and cities and less often in the country.
Little brown bats go to caves for the winter, but they often return to the same general area each spring. They are capable of forming much larger maternity colonies and have historically been responsible for some of Ontario’s largest residential bat infestations.
Bracebridge and the surrounding Muskoka region can have both species, especially because of the mix of year-round homes, seasonal cottages, lakefront properties, older structures, rural homes, and wooded areas.
A big brown bat resting on the outside of a home in London, Ontario. Bats seen on exterior walls almost invariably mean bats are living in your building.
A little brown bat resting on the exterior wall of a home. Little brown bats are capable of forming large maternity colonies and have historically been responsible for some of Ontario’s largest residential bat infestations.
Click to learn about Ontario’s two most common house-dwelling bats.
“Benjamin and Kenny are the best in the business. Benjamin received my late night frantic phone call and took the time to explain EVERYTHING to us. There was no need to look further. We are so grateful for their excellent work and for their patience and professionalism throughout this ordeal. I would highly recommend their services!
Thanks to Benjamin and Kenny for coming so quickly.”
★★★★★
Spent Tons Of Money On “Others”
“Ben and his team are very professional and knowledgeable. After spending tons of money with other bat guys Ben and his crew came out and got rid of them for good. I recommend anyone who has a bat problem to give these guys a call. They are the real deal. Im very impressed with their workmanship and professionalism.
Thanks Ben”
★★★★★
“Knows His Stuff”
“How often do you call a company and they talk you OUT of their services? I had a very informative conversation with Benny who reassured me about our bat issue at home, leading me to understand that it wasn’t as urgent as I thought. He obviously knows his stuff and is an honest guy as he could have easily upsold me on expensive bat removal services that I didn’t actually need. One conversation like this really makes you trust someone, and I know who we’ll be calling if it ever truly gets out of hand.”
We provide bat removal and complete bat-proofing in Bracebridge, Ontario and surrounding Muskoka communities.
We Also Serve..
We Also Serve
Gravenhurst
Huntsville
Port Carling
Bala
Lake of Bays
Baysville
Muskoka Lakes
Minett
Windermere
Port Sydney
Utterson
Kilworthy
Severn Bridge
Washago
Torrance
Rosseau
District of Muskoka
Frequently Asked Questions About Bat Removal In Bracebridge, Ontario
How do I know if bats are living in my house?
Look for these signs. All of them are definitive signs you have at least some bats living in your building.
Will bats leave on their own?
No, established colonies usually do not simply abandon a good roost.
Can I seal all the holes myself?
Not a chance. You need lots of specialized tools, equipment and years of experience.
Where do bats live inside houses?
Primarily in walls and attics, although they mostly use attics as a toilet and for night roosting.
How small of a gap can bats use?
Tiny gaps of less than a 1¼ inch by ¼ inch to get in. Take a pencil and measue 1 and a quarter inches of it. Thats enough.
Do you remove bats humanely?
Yes, we exclusively use humane exclusion devices that let bats out but not back in.
Do you bat-proof the whole house?
Yes, because without proper prevention work, you cannot exclude the bats and keep them out.
Do you guarantee the work?
Yes we typically give lifetime warranties. To read why are warranties are different than those offered by wildlife control companies click the link below.
If you are seeing bats inside your home, finding droppings near the roofline, or watching bats leave the same area at dusk, your home needs a proper bat inspection. We provide humane bat removal, complete bat-proofing, and guaranteed long-term protection for London-area homes.
For A Free Estimate
Fast, humane, guaranteed bat removal. Serving Bracebridge and the surrounding area
1047 Bonnie Lake Camp Rd Unit 447, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1W9
