In West Virginia, bat exclusion is generally done before bats return in spring or after they’ve left in late summer/fall , not during the pup- rearing period. A practical rule from the guidance I found is to avoid exclusion from roughly May through mid-August , because young bats may still be unable to fly and could be trapped inside.

What that means

  • Best times: early spring, before bats enter the roost, or fall after they’ve left.
  • Avoid: May through mid-August, and any time bats are hibernating in the structure.
  • Winter: some sources note winter exclusion can be possible, but it may not be advisable because bats can still be inside and hibernating.

Simple takeaway

If you’re asking “when can bats be excluded again in WV,” the safe answer is: late August through fall is the usual window, and early spring is also okay before bats return. For a colony in a home or attic, many wildlife guidance sources recommend waiting until the young can fly and all bats are naturally exiting at night.

Practical note

If you’re dealing with bats in a building, the usual method is to watch where they exit at dusk, install one-way exclusion devices, and then seal openings only after the bats are out.