how do i tell what kind of bats i have? Also how do i get rid of them?

Question

These bats are NOT pets. I just couldn't figure out what category to put this question in.

We can't have bats around. Because my mom said some type of fungus that grows on there poop can be very harmful to us.

My mom and older sister saw tons of bats flying around in front of our house where the light is. I guess they were eating the bug atracted to the light.

Answer 1

Call your local department of natural resources and get referred to a person that specializes in the removal of nuisance wildlife.
Do not mess with the bats yourself especially if out during daylight hours. THey are the number one carriers of the rabies virus in the midwest. Make sure all your pets are up to date on their rabies vaccine since they are more likely to come in direct contact.
But please don't be terrified, just cautious. Bats are wonderful insect eaters, eating their weight in insects every night!!! They eat a lot of mosquitoes
Good luck and be Safe,
-a dvm

Answer 2

I don't know where you live - but here in New England, the bats that live in our attics are migratory and are not there during the winter months. If I wanted to get totally rid of bats, I would wait until after they leave in the fall and then go into the attic and either seal or screen over any openings. You must be thorough as they can squeeze through very narrow openings. For narrow cracks, you can use a foam sealer. It's very important to avoid any direct physical contact with bats, as they can transmit rabies and their teeth are so tiny that people don't always know when they've been bitten. If you do have direct contact with a bat, or if you wake up to find that a bat has been in the room while you were sleeping, you should call a physician or go to an emergency room to get post-exposure rabies vaccine.

Answer 3

Watch around sunset to see where they are exiting into the night and then plug up the hole the are suing. You don't want to do this during the day because yo seal them in, they die, and it gets disgusting. In fact, chances are the place they have been hanging in has some bat "remainders" on the floor. Bats are also usually protected by all sorts of laws, so you can't exterminate then (officially anyway, not using a licensed exterminator). Just be cautious because they do carry all sorts of diseases, not the least of which is rabies. Just keep watching where they are exiting and plug it up.
Search images at Google to determine the type you have, or describe them here and we will help you find out.
One more thing, if you contact any wildlife agency, they may invoke various restrictions and laws and guidelines concerning the removal of bats. I have some friends who were directed to wait several months before they were allowed to remedy the problem. They had to put up with an ever increasing number of bats, not to mentions the excrement, or face pretty hefty fines. Someone will of course advise you to contact someone official. If you want to get rid of these things quickly, don't do that. Just simply plug up the hole(s) they are using after they exit for the night. You can't get rabies from plugging up a hole.

Answer 4

where are they?? are they in your house...???
bats eat insects and fruit...id leave them be if they aren't in your home, or business. where are you?? there are TONS of bat species...cant tell ya what you have if you don't list a location.

here is some info on bats
http://members.aol.com/KiteCD2/an_MBat.htm

http://www.incrediblebats.com/


you might want to call your local Wildlife Office....and ask what you should do. most bats are protected by law.


And for Peter K:
Bats are clean animals that groom themselves daily.
Yes, they can contract rabies, but less than 1/2 of 1% of the
almost 1,000 different species of bats actually has rabies.
You are more likely to contract rabies from an unvaccinated dog or cat.


AGAIN:
you ppl are spouting off MYTHS about bats and rabies....id be more worried about your neighbors DOG or CAT than a bat. they are NOT the #1 carrier, bats eat insects...so unless you turn into an insect at night bats will stay clear of you! they don't dive at your head when you walk because they are attacking you....they are diving for the insects that YOU kick up as you walk along.
you ppl really should read the web pages I have posted and re-educate yourselves on a most amazing creature!

Answer 5

Lay out fruit & if its gone ( or at lest some are gone) the nest day there fruit bats if not well............... toget rid of themcall someone thats traned to cach them.

Answer 6

Get a book from your local library or try ASK.com.
Why get rid of them??Did you know that most of them consume their body weight each night in bugs you REALLY don't like, like mosquito's??