1215 Bonnie Lake Rd, Bracebridge, ON P1H 1X2

The most common signs you have a bat problem include..

You can watch this video to learn more.

There are only two species of bats that commonly live in homes in London, Ontario: the Big Brown Bat and the Little Brown Bat.

While Ontario is home to several bat species, the vast majority of residential bat problems involve one of these two species. Of the two, Little Brown Bats are by far the most common in urban areas and are responsible for most bat infestations in homes throughout Bracebridge and the surrouding regions.

Understanding which species is present can help determine where the bats are likely to be roosting, how they are using the structure, and what exclusion methods will be most effective.

Big brown bats & little brown bats

The two species are very similar in appearance and can be difficult for homeowners to tell apart.

\

The other species commonly found in Muskoka, the Little Brown Bat, is much more common in the Bracebridge, Ontario area. And Little Brown Bats are known for forming very large colonies and can sometimes be found in significant numbers. Little brown bats were once one of the most common bat species encountered in homes throughout the Bracebridge area. That changed dramatically after the arrival of White-nose Syndrome, a devastating fungal disease that spread through Ontario and caused catastrophic population declines. By around 2013, little brown bats had become far less common, and the large attic colonies that homeowners once regularly encountered had largely disappeared. Over the past five years, however, there have been increasing signs of recovery. Reports of larger colonies and major infestations are becoming more common once again, suggesting that little brown bat populations in the Bracebridge area beginning a significant rebound.

For homeowners, the return of little brown bats is a mixed blessing. While the recovery of a native species is encouraging from a conservation perspective, large colonies can create serious problems when they take up residence in an attic. Before White-nose Syndrome, it was not uncommon to encounter infestations numbering in the hundreds or even thousands of bats. Such colonies could produce enormous accumulations of guano and urine, resulting in strong odours, staining, contamination of insulation, and costly cleanup projects. Homeowners also faced concerns about potential exposure to rabies through direct contact and the risk of histoplasmosis associated with disturbing large accumulations of bat guano. Excluding large little brown bat colonies was often far more complicated and expensive than dealing with smaller infestations, requiring meticulous bat-proofing, specialized exclusion devices, and extensive guano cleanup and restoration work.

For homeowners, the best time to address a little brown bat colony is while it is still small. Although populations appear to be recovering in parts of Ontario, little brown bats remain listed as an endangered species, and special protocols must be followed when excluding them from a structure. A colony that starts with only a handful of bats can grow substantially over time as females return year after year and young bats are added to the population. What may be a relatively straightforward bat-proofing project today can eventually become a major exclusion and cleanup project involving large amounts of guano, contaminated insulation, unpleasant odours, and significantly higher costs. Early intervention not only minimizes damage to the home but also allows the bats to be excluded safely and humanely while complying with applicable wildlife protection requirements.

Not sure which species you have?

Click the button below to learn how to identify Ontario’s two most common house-dwelling bats.

Bat Control Explained

The only effective solution to any residential bat problem is to bat-proof the structure and humanely exclude the bats. Nothing else works. This is true regardless of the bat species involved or whether you are dealing with a single bat inside the home or a large colony living in the attic. Despite this, many homeowners first turn to inexpensive gadgets and home remedies in hopes of solving the problem themselves.

Common examples include:

Bat-houses. Ultrasonic repellers. Bright lights. Mothballs. Scented oils and spray repellents

Unfortunately, none of these methods will remove bats from a building.

Authentic Bat Removal Explained

The only humane and effective way to remove bats from a home is through exclusion.

Exclusion involves installing specially designed one-way bat excluders over the bats’ primary entry and exit points. These devices allow bats to leave naturally but prevent them from getting back inside.

Once all bats have exited, the exclusion devices are removed and the remaining openings are permanently sealed. When performed correctly, exclusion removes the bats without harming them and prevents them from returning.

Here are ours.

Designed by us and built by us, our custom aluminum bat excluders are engineered specifically for safe and effective bat removal.

Unlike mesh excluders, they contain no sharp edges, loose fibres, or materials that can trap bats. Their rigid aluminum construction is weather-resistant, chew-proof, and built to withstand years of exposure to the elements.

Most importantly, they allow bats to leave safely and naturally while preventing them from re-entering the structure.

Because effective bat exclusion is too important to trust to improvised materials, we use our own professionally designed excluders that are durable, humane, and proven in the field.

We have the right bat excluder for every situation. Designed by us, built by us, and field-tested on thousands of Ontario homes.

Here They Are in Action.

Over the years, we have developed a variety of custom exclusion devices to handle the many different entry points found on homes and buildings. Whether bats are entering through soffits, fascia, brickwork, roof intersections, chimneys, vents, or other hard-to-access areas, we have an exclusion system designed for the job.

Every structure is different, and effective bat removal requires using the right excluder in the right location. That’s why we don’t rely on one-size-fits-all solutions. We select and install the exclusion device that best matches the building, the entry point, and the behaviour of the bats using it.

Unlike the cheap plastic excluders often used by non-specialists, our custom aluminum bat excluders will not become brittle, crack, or deteriorate after prolonged exposure to the elements.

Our aluminum bat excluders are impervious to both rodent damage and UV deterioration.

Mesh excluders used by non specialists can become death traps

Many inexperienced wildlife control companies build inexpensive bat excluders from mesh. Unfortunately, the results can be disastrous.

Bats can become caught on sharp edges or burrs in the mesh, suffer injuries while attempting to regain access, or become completely trapped inside improperly designed exclusion devices. In some cases, these shortcuts can result in unnecessary bat deaths and create additional problems for the homeowner.

Our properly designed bat excluders allow bats to leave safely and naturally while preventing them from re-entering the structure. Effective bat exclusion requires more than simply covering a hole with a cheap excluder—it requires an understanding of bat behaviour, building construction, and proper exclusion techniques.

No bat will become stuck in our excluders!

Safe & effective bat exclusion is an art. But it’s only the first step.

The second part of successful bat control is prevention. Bat-excluders cannot work without proper bat-proofing. Unless you want to play a game of whack-a-mole with your resident bats, the entire structure must be secured as well.

Unfortunately, home builders are not designing houses with small animals such as bats and mice in mind. The average home contains hundreds, if not thousands, of potential wildlife entry points. Identifying and sealing these openings is essential before any bat exclusion devices are installed. Otherwise, the bats will simply find another way into the structure.

“Bat control is 1% exclusion & 99% prevention work.”

Benjamin Vaughan. Founder Bat Control Specialists

Small

Prevention work includes much more than simply sealing a few holes. It often involves caulking and sealing gaps throughout the structure using several different types of sealants, modifying roof vents, chimney systems, and other building components, fabricating custom flashings, and repairing roofing, siding, soffits, and fascia.

The challenge is that all of this work must be completed without interfering with the normal function of the building. Roof vents must continue to ventilate, chimneys must continue to vent safely, and water drainage systems must continue to work properly. At the same time, the structure must be secured against bats, squirrels, raccoons, mice, and other wildlife.

When attempting to exclude a resident bat colony, it is important to remember that the bats will actively try to regain access. In their minds, the building is home. If even a single usable opening is overlooked, they will eventually find it. Successful bat exclusion requires identifying and securing every potential re-entry point before the bats are permanently locked out.

Bat Guano, Histoplasmosis and your home.

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that properly cleaning up after a large bat colony can be every bit as challenging and expensive as excluding the bats themselves. Large guano cleanup projects often require specialized HEPA-filtered vacuums, negative air machines, protective suits, and respiratory equipment similar to that used in the asbestos abatement industry. In severe cases, contaminated materials must be removed directly through the roof rather than carried through the living areas of the home. Insulation replacement is frequently necessary, adding significantly to the overall cost of the project. Attempting to clean up large accumulations of bat guano with ordinary shop vacuums, household vacuum cleaners, or simple dust masks can be dangerous due to the potential presence of Histoplasma, a fungus that can grow in large accumulations of bat droppings and become airborne when disturbed.

Is guano abatement always required?

Fortunately, not every bat infestation requires extensive cleanup. Big brown bats, the species most commonly found in Ontario homes today, typically live in much smaller colonies than little brown bats historically did. In many cases, a small colony of big brown bats leaves behind only modest amounts of guano. If the bats have been properly excluded, the home has been thoroughly bat-proofed, the attic is not used for storage, and there are no mechanical systems that require regular servicing in the affected area, cleanup may not always be necessary. Every situation is different, but the goal is to match the cleanup effort to the actual level of contamination rather than automatically assuming that every attic requires a major abatement project.

Case Study. Learn How We Solved a Bat Problem in A Home

Check out our YouTube channels for lots of great videos about bat problems