The first piece of equipment that you’ll need is a ladder. To find all the potential access points that bats can use, you’ll need to be able to get up and inspect the soffits, eaves, and roof. It would be best if you did this before heading to the department or hardware store to get the rest of the equipment so that you know which materials you need.

For example, bats can fit through tiny crevices (anything the size of a dime or larger), which you can seal with silicone caulking. Larger openings, however, will need to be covered by materials such as hardware cloth, or steel mesh, or metal flashing.

Once you know the size of the gaps, you’ll have a better idea of the specific equipment you need to do the job. You won’t need every item on this list as long as you have the right materials and tools to repair the holes, and either the equipment to make the exclusion door or a pre-built exclusion device.

• Ladder
• Silicone caulking
• Caulking gun (or buy the caulking in a tube that makes for easy application)
• Hardware cloth, steel mesh or metal flashing
• Drill and screws
• Bat exclusion device, or bat netting