How do I catch a bat?

Question

There's a bat in my house and I need to know how to catch it. An exterminator is too expensive. Please help. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

OK remember to be careful.

Open your door or window. The bat is looking for a way out.
Open a door and leave it open to give the flying bat a clear path. The bat may sense the fresh air and fly out of your house.

Allow the bat to land. Stay out of its way and watch for it to land.

Pick up the bat if necessary. If the bat lands low, toss a towel carefully over the bat. It will not be able to take off again. The towel should cover the bat without causing injury.

Scoop up the towel. Keep the bat wrapped inside. You should expect to hear clicking noises when the bat is frightened. It is best to presume that the bat might try to bite through the towel, so put on gloves or oven mitts to be safe.

Coax the bat down from high places. If the bat lands high on your wall or ceiling, place a coffee can or plastic container over the bat. Slide the lid of the container cautiously between the bat and wall. Keep the container as close to the wall as possible. Do not pinch the bat.

Carry the towel or container outside. Set the trapped bat on the ground some distance from your house. Close your door so that the bat does not accidentally fly inside again.

Remove the towel or container carefully, so that you can see the bat on the ground. Walk away and watch. The bat will attempt a few hops, then become airborne. Bats have some difficulty taking off from the ground.

Help the bat if it seems fatigued. If the bat is too tired or scared to take off, you may want to place it near a tree. The bat will climb the tree where it can drop into flight.

Take care using your hands directly. Some people find it easier to use their hand to pick up a resting bat from the floor or wall. You should wear a leather glove. Do not squeeze too tightly. Place the bat on the trunk of a tree. It will grip the bark and climb away.



Tips [edit]You may want to wet the towel before throwing it over the bat.

A fishing net is inappropriate to trap a bat. The bat can fit through the large webbing. A butterfly net is a good choice.

A tennis racket or baseball bat will injure or kill the bat. Please don't use this under any circumstances.

Bats do not build nests in your hair. A sick or confused bat may accidentally bump into your head. This is undesirable to you and the bat.

Bats can enter your house through very, very small cracks in your roof, chimney, fireplace, furnace, attic, vents or windows. The most likely entry is through loose areas in your soffit, the edge of your roof. Once a bat is in your house, it is unlikely they will find that tiny crack again to exit.

Most house bats are brown. They have extremely sharp little teeth. They use their teeth to eat insects. Bats in your neighborhood will reduce the insect population. Build bat houses nearby.

Remove any pets to reduce the chance of them coming into contact with the bat, or causing more stress to the bat.



Warnings [edit]A very small percentage of bats may have the disease rabies. An unhealthy bat bumps into walls, furniture, people and objects or is unable to fly. Avoid a bat on the ground. Rabies can be transmitted by biting.

Bat droppings, guano, can grow a fungus that can infect a human. Histoplasmosis occurs when mold spores are inhaled. Symptoms are like pneumonia and may lead to very serious complications, even death. This problem is not likely to occur just because you see a bat in your house. If you have a bat colony in your house, you should have the bats removed and the roosting area sanitized.

On one occasion, a man opened his door to allow a bat to escape. Another bat flew in through the open door after hearing the sound of the bat inside the house. Regardless, this still seems to be the simplest method.

HOPE THIS WAS A HELP!

Answer 2

Here you are Batgirl!

Open your door or window. The bat is looking for a way out.

Open a door and leave it open to give the flying bat a clear path. The bat may sense the fresh air and fly out of your house.

Allow the bat to land. Stay out of its way and watch for it to land.

Pick up the bat if necessary. If the bat lands low, toss a towel carefully over the bat. It will not be able to take off again. The towel should cover the bat without causing injury.

Scoop up the towel. Keep the bat wrapped inside. You should expect to hear clicking noises when the bat is frightened. It is best to presume that the bat might try to bite through the towel, so put on gloves or oven mitts to be safe.

Coax the bat down from high places. If the bat lands high on your wall or ceiling, place a coffee can or plastic container over the bat. Slide the lid of the container cautiously between the bat and wall. Keep the container as close to the wall as possible. Do not pinch the bat.

Carry the towel or container outside. Set the trapped bat on the ground some distance from your house. Close your door so that the bat does not accidentally fly inside again.

Remove the towel or container carefully, so that you can see the bat on the ground. Walk away and watch. The bat will attempt a few hops, then become airborne. Bats have some difficulty taking off from the ground.
Help the bat if it seems fatigued. If the bat is too tired or scared to take off, you may want to place it near a tree. The bat will climb the tree where it can drop into flight.
Take care using your hands directly. Some people find it easier to use their hand to pick up a resting bat from the floor or wall. You should wear a leather glove. Do not squeeze too tightly. Place the bat on the trunk of a tree. It will grip the bark and climb away.

Tips
You may want to wet the towel before throwing it over the bat.
A fishing net is inappropriate to trap a bat. The bat can fit through the large webbing. A butterfly net is a good choice.
A tennis racket or baseball bat will injure or kill the bat. Please don't use this under any circumstances.
Bats do not build nests in your hair. A sick or confused bat may accidentally bump into your head. This is undesirable to you and the bat.
Bats can enter your house through very, very small cracks in your roof, chimney, fireplace, furnace, attic, vents or windows. The most likely entry is through loose areas in your soffit, the edge of your roof. Once a bat is in your house, it is unlikely they will find that tiny crack again to exit.
Most house bats are brown. They have extremely sharp little teeth. They use their teeth to eat insects. Bats in your neighborhood will reduce the insect population. Build bat houses nearby.
Remove any pets to reduce the chance of them coming into contact with the bat, or causing more stress to the bat.




Warnings
A very small percentage of bats may have the disease rabies. An unhealthy bat bumps into walls, furniture, people and objects or is unable to fly. Avoid a bat on the ground. Rabies can be transmitted by biting.
Bat droppings, guano, can grow a fungus that can infect a human. Histoplasmosis occurs when mold spores are inhaled. Symptoms are like pneumonia and may lead to very serious complications, even death. This problem is not likely to occur just because you see a bat in your house. If you have a bat colony in your house, you should have the bats removed and the roosting area sanitized.
On one occasion, a man opened his door to allow a bat to escape. Another bat flew in through the open door after hearing the sound of the bat inside the house. Regardless, this still seems to be the simplest method.

Answer 3

Be careful as bats can have dreadful diseases. I would not be trying to catch it myself. There have been cases of death from bats biting people in Australia. Or spreading disease.

Me! I'd pay for someone to get rid of it. Could be the best money you have ever spent.

Otherwise, see what the local animal authorities in your area have to say. They may be able to help you. Give them a call. Check out the phone book.

Answer 4

First off ... don't worry about rabies!! Raccoons are more known to have them than a insect eating bat! Ya...most bats eat insects and can eat 13,000 a night! If you know what room it is in...open the windows...keep the door shut and the bat will leave on its own. Bats use a high pitch sound "that we can't hear" to guide them when they are flying...this is why it may be flying from room to room ... it can't see the window...so you have to help by keeping the door closed.

Answer 5

I know how to ATTRACT bats..

They use sonar to find their food, so if you gently rub your middle finger/thumb together (not loud enough to snap, but loud enough to make a semi-audible sound) they will come to you.

What you do after it comes to you ... well... that's all up to you--haha. Think it through, though.

I'd suggest using a giant fishing net, but I don't know how you'd get it free. I also know they can bite/scratch pretty bad. Perhaps if you can, catch it in a heavy blanket as it flies by, or catch it in a box.

If it's not too far in, open a door or window, and try shooing it out :)

Answer 6

go where the bat are .1 net 2 flash light get 3 peoples to go with you wait until dark . good luck

Answer 7

Part with the money and get a professional. Bats have been known to carry rabies, and you don't want that.

Answer 8

Just leave a door open and it'll fly out eventually. If it doesn't, hit it with a 2x4 or a baseball bat.

Answer 9

With a bat, actually I am kidding.

Answer 10

your local animal control person wil lprobably do it for free, basically you wait for them to land, then WEARING WORK GLOVES, you GENTLY pin it down and then being VERY gentle carry it outseide and let it go. It is a scared of you as you are of it. It CANNOT bite thru the work gloves and will be DELIGHTED to be outside again.