When bats and people share space, we're the bridge. Austin Bat Refuge provides expert consultation and humane exclusion services for homeowners, businesses, and governments across Central Texas.
In almost every conflict situation, a humane solution exists. Exclusion — not extermination — is the only ethical and often the only legal approach. We have never encountered a situation where killing bats was the right answer, and we won't recommend it.
Our conflict resolution services are tailored to the unique needs of different clients. Select your situation below.
Bats in attics, walls, and crawlspaces are a common issue in Central Texas, where our climate makes residential structures attractive roost sites. We've helped hundreds of families resolve these situations humanely and permanently.
The most important thing to know: bats are not trapped in your home. They enter and exit nightly through entry points. A proper exclusion seals these entry points at the right time — after the bats have exited for the evening, preventing them from returning.
We discuss your situation, assess urgency, and explain the process. Most homeowner situations don't require immediate emergency response.
We inspect the structure, identify entry points, assess colony size, and determine if pups are present (important for timing).
One-way exclusion devices are installed over entry points. Bats can exit but cannot return. Timing respects maternity season laws.
After 7–14 days with no bat activity, all entry points are permanently sealed. The structure is now bat-free.
We can install bat boxes nearby so the displaced colony has an alternative roost — keeping them in your neighborhood as natural pest control.
In Texas, excluding bats during maternity season (typically May 1 – August 1) is prohibited when young flightless pups are present. We strictly follow these regulations — excluding at the wrong time traps and kills pups. We'll advise on the legal window for your situation.
Bats in commercial buildings present unique challenges: liability concerns, employee relations, customer-facing spaces, and often larger-scale colonies than residential situations. We have extensive experience with commercial exclusions.
We work with property managers, building owners, HOAs, and businesses of all sizes to develop exclusion plans that minimize business disruption while ensuring humane, legal, and permanent resolution.
500+ bat colony in masonry facade. Phased exclusion over 3 weeks during off-season. Zero bat casualties. Building fully sealed.
Pre-construction consultation identified three roost sites. Exclusion plan integrated into construction schedule. Bat boxes installed on adjacent green space.
Colony in utility room ventilation. Humane exclusion timed around facility hours. Staff training provided. Bat-friendly interpretive signage installed.
Austin Bat Refuge works with city and county agencies, parks departments, school districts, and other government entities to develop bat-friendly policies and resolve conflicts in public spaces.
We offer the full range of exclusion services for government properties, plus policy consultation, staff training, and help developing bat-positive public communications that frame wildlife coexistence as a community asset rather than a liability.
Austin's handling of the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony is widely cited as the gold standard for urban wildlife coexistence. A colony that was once considered a nuisance became one of the city's most beloved attractions — and a significant tourism driver. Austin Bat Refuge helped make that transformation possible.
We can help your jurisdiction achieve similar outcomes — turning wildlife challenges into opportunities for community connection and environmental leadership.
Every conflict situation is unique. Call us or send a message and we'll help you understand your options — no pressure, no judgment, just practical guidance from people who know bats.