Have you ever had a bat (the kind with those big black wings) in your house. How did you get rid of it?

Question

Thank you so much for all your answers. It was interesting and educational to read what you have to say. Yes, I did have a bat flying around in my house tonight and that is what prompted the question. This was not the first time a bat got into my house. Each time I was able to safely get the bat out but each time we used a different method. Tonight my straw hat and a carboard box cover did the trick. At other time, I was able to open a window and the bat flew right out. Sometimes I used a paper bag. I would never dream of hurting the bat. I know that it doesn't want to be in my house any more than I want it there, and I also know that without them there would be a lot more mosquitoes biting me. It's going to be hard to pick a best answer. Thanks once again to all of you for your great responses.

Answer 1

If you have a bat flying around in your house, don’t panic. It is wise to nothe that all wild animals will bite if threatened so make sure never to touch a bat with your bare hands. If you think that there is reasonable probability that someone has come in contact with the bat, safely capture the animal with a butterfly net, box, thick towel, or leather work gloves. Put the bat in a secure container and contact your local animal control officer, and instruct the officer to have it tested immediately for rabies. If the test comes back positive (meaning the bat had the rabies virus), medical attention is needed. Contact your local emergency health provider. Reasonable probability includes sleeping adults, children who cannot give an accurate history of events, or a mentally incapacitated and intoxicated individual. If there is no reasonable possibility of contact with anyone, simply open a door or window and let the bat fly out.

Bats that are often found in people's houses are young bats that have lost their way. They may also be adult bats that accidentally fly through an open window or door. The first step in removing the bat from the home is to stay calm. If the bat is flying around, it is not trying to attack anyone, it is only attempting to find a way out. Turn on some lights in the house so that you can easily see the bat and the bat can also see (bats are not blind). Next, close the doors to adjoining rooms, open the doors and windows in the room the bat is flying around, and if possible, turn on a light outside so the bat can readily see the exit. The bat has very good echolocation (radar), but it is also frightened being in a human's house. More than likely, the bat will just fly right out the open door or window within a few minutes. You may want to be more direct and use a small mesh net or pillow case to gently catch the bat in flight. If the bat lands and does not fly again, there are other ways to remove it. First, put on a pair of thick leather work gloves, and find a small cardboard box or coffee can. Slowly walk up to the bat and put the container over the bat, slip a piece of cardboard or book behind it and take it outside and let it go.

As long as the bat never touches anyone, there is no need to worry about transmitting any diseases or viruses. The Center for Disease Control recommends that anyone that comes in direct, unprotected, contact with wild mammals should receive rabies post-exposure treatment from a health-care provider, if the animal is not able to be caught and tested. Rabies post-exposure treatment should also be administered in situations in which there is a reasonable probability that such contact occurred (e.g., a sleeping person awakes to find a bat in the room or an adult witnesses a bat in the room with a previously unattended child, mentally disabled person, or an intoxicated person).

Answer 2

Sounds like you need to find out how these bats are getting into your house in the first place. You may have them living in your attic or fireplace. Bat droppings can be harmful to humans. Might be a good idea to get a professional out there for an inspection and to remove any unwanted visitors. They will also clean up any droppings that might cause you problems in the future. Then seal up the areas allowing them entry.

Answer 3

All i know is they're smarter than birds at leaving through an open door. Just open the door and then make it move from wherever it is. Make sure it can feel where there's draft of air and it should know where to go.
If it seems unwilling to move, it might be sick or injured and it needs to rest for a while.
You could try catching it with a net if you have one, or improvise a net, you could use a colander and cardboard, or even a bag with holes in it. Just take him outside.

Answer 4

This happened to me on July 17th:

My sister tried to stab (with a shovel) a bat that was sitting in the upper corner of the living room. It flew around the room till it stuck itself to the front screen door. She slammed the door and I ran around to the front porch and tried to gas it with Raid House & Garden. When I opened the screen door he was still there, so I maced it with the Raid till it was white as a bag of powdered sugar. My sister came and tried to hit it with the shovel to kill it, but it flew away with blunt force trauma to the head/torso and lungs full of pesticide.

The moral of the story is: DON'T TRY TO MACE A BAT WITH RAID!!! You'll end up almost gassing yourself.

Actually, we usually try to open the nearest door and let it fly out...if that doesn't work, we hit the bat with something like a small shovel, then scoop up the dead carcass and burn it.

Remember, if you find one in your house at night, turn on all the lights in your house to blind it.

P.S. Sometimes when you hit or stab them they scream like a person does - no sh*t!

Answer 5

Hello: put many stripe of foil paper, out your windows, doors. In this way is sure that the never go around your house again.

Answer 6

turn all the lights off. and open a door, turn a light on in the room the door is in. it went out side.

then another time. my father in law caught it with a basket and took it outside to let it go.

they are drawn to light it seems.
i hide under covers they creep me out the way they fly and flop as they fly around.

Answer 7

IF HE STAYS PUT LONG ENOUGH YOU COULD TOSS A LIGHT WEIGHT BLANKIE OR A SHEET OVER HIM. IT IS BIG ENOUGH TO CATCH HIM IF HE STARTS TO TAKE OFF AND WON'T HURT HIM. I DID THAT WITH A BIRD A COUPLE TIMES, IT WORKED GREAT AND THE BIRD WAS GOING CRAZY. IT SHOULD WORK WITH A BAT.

Answer 8

omg this happened last night to me 2 bats followed my husband from the basement all the way upstairs to our room my husband hit it with a broom and flung it outside dont worry he didnt kill it he just knocked it stupid.if you see the bat coming towards you duck his claws will stick to your face.omg it was something different

Answer 9

is it in the house or in a chimney?

they are nocturnal (active at night, sleep during daylight) daytime would be the best if you know where it sleeps to capture it and let it go.
be sure to wear gloves and long sleeves, they carry bugs and fleas and are capable of having rabies.

If anything, call your local animal control center and ask their advice.

Answer 10

no. but dont hurt the little guy.bats r cute. they're helpful too. they're not dangerous at all. i think u should call the animal care institute or something. dont disturb them. just let them be.