Before you consider using traps — or any other method — to remove bats from your property, you should know about the laws surrounding the activity. The laws can get incredibly specific and restrictive with certain animals, and, sadly, bats are one of those animals. It means that you'll need to play your removal approach with great care, making sure that you are taking into consideration the safety of the animal, alongside the safety of yourself and others in your local area.



There are two laws/acts that you will need to look into when removing bats:
The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1956
The Endangered Species Act of 1973
Both of these will dictate your movements as far as removing bats are concerned.

There are SIX species of bat that are protected, not just at a state level, but at a federal level. These six species are considered “endangered species” and prohibits activity such as moving bats, disturbing them, removal at certain times of the year, removal under certain circumstances, and even handling or disrupting the roost. Knowing the species of bat that you have in your building or property is essential to make sure that you don't break federal law.

There are also state-protected bat species too, and these will change from state to state, and also over time. If a bat's populations increase, a bat may be taken off the endangered or threatened list, but if their numbers decline (certain species have seen this over recent years) they will be added to the list. You will need to check the species — and state status of that species — before you take any action.

In almost every state, you must have licenses or permits to perform any kind of bat removal action, and this means that DIY action will be illegal. When hiring in a professional to do the job on your behalf, make sure that they not only have the right knowledge and experience to deal with bats (including of the law), but that they also have the right insurances to work on your building, and also the right permits or licenses to deal with bats specifically. Bat trapping is a profession that requires years of training, and even years of “assisting” before technicians can perform jobs alone.

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