Wildlife Removal in Austin: Bats, Snakes & Hill Country Wildlife

The 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats under the Congress Avenue Bridge are Austin's most famous wildlife residents, but they're far from the only ones causing problems for homeowners. Austin's position at the edge of the Texas Hill Country — where limestone terrain, cedar and live oak woodland, and the Barton Creek and Bull Creek greenbelts push directly into residential neighborhoods — creates wildlife pressure that's more diverse and persistent than most Texas cities.

Austin's bat population extends well beyond the Congress Avenue Bridge. Mexican free-tailed bats roost in attics, under roof tiles, and in wall voids throughout the metro area. The city's older building stock — Hyde Park, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek — has numerous entry points that bats exploit readily.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Code prohibits bat exclusion from June 1 through July 31 (maternity season). This is a strict legal requirement — exclusion performed during this window can result in significant fines. If you discover bats in your home in summer, we can seal gaps leading to living spaces and schedule full exclusion for August.

Signs that bats are using your home: brown staining around small exterior gaps (from bat oils), squeaking or scratching sounds at dusk and dawn, guano accumulating on exterior walls, and bats emerging from the roofline at dusk.

Central Texas has four venomous snake species, and Austin homeowners encounter all of them.

Copperheads are the most common venomous snake encounter in the Austin area. They're found in wooded neighborhoods near Barton Creek, Bull Creek, and Shoal Creek, and in suburban yards with rock outcroppings or brush piles. Their camouflage is exceptional — the banded pattern disappears against leaf litter and cedar duff.

Western cottonmouths are found near water: Barton Creek, Lady Bird Lake, and drainage areas throughout the city. They're more aggressive than most US snakes and will hold their ground rather than retreat.

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are found in open areas and rocky terrain, particularly in West Austin, Westlake, and the Hill Country suburbs. They're more common in the drier, rockier terrain west of MoPac than in the eastern parts of the city.

Texas coral snakes are found in wooded areas throughout Central Texas. They're shy and rarely encountered, but their venom is neurotoxic and serious.

Austin's construction boom is clearing Hill Country terrain at a rapid pace. New developments in Hays County, Williamson County, and outer Travis County displace raccoons from established habitats, and those animals move into existing neighborhoods. Austin's mild climate means raccoons breed year-round — there's no predictable safe season for exclusion without first assessing whether young are present.

Austin's Barton Creek Greenbelt, Shoal Creek, and Bull Creek all run directly through residential neighborhoods. These corridors provide wildlife with continuous habitat and movement routes into residential areas. Homes backing up to greenbelt face the highest wildlife pressure in the city.

Call (800) 319-1556 for a free inspection. We serve Travis County and all surrounding areas.

View our Austin service page for more information.