Removing Bats from a House

Removing bats from a house needn't be a traumatic experience. The bat probably wandered into your home by mistake. It won't make a nest in your hair or suck your blood-it probably wants to get outside as much as you want it to go!

Safely Removing Bats From A House

• Isolation first. Your first priority is to isolate the bat in an exterior room of your home. Close all doors and openings that lead to other parts of the house until the bat is blocked into one room. Open any exterior windows (removing screens if necessary) to provide an outdoor exit for the bat. In all likelihood, the bat will find its way outside as you prepare to remove it.
• Work safe. If you need to remove the bat manual, be prepared by dressing in long, heavy clothing and using heavy leather work gloves. Bats are not natural biters, but a scared and cornered animal will bite as a natural defense.
• Turn the lights down low. Although you won't want to turn the lights off completely, bright lights will attract and confuse a bat that's trying to escape your home. Reduce the room lighting to one light or lights that are dim. The bat will have enough light to make out the exits, but not enough to frighten or bewilder the animal.
• Kick the bucket. If the bat is resting on a wall and doesn't seem inclined to move, you can trap it by covering it with a bucket or large can. Once the bat is caught under the container, slip a stiff piece of paper or cardboard under the edge to create a lid. Carry the captured bat away from your home and release it.
• The big cover up. If the bat stops to rest on the floor or a table or bookshelf, you can trap it by throwing a towel over it. When you've trapped the bat, gather the edges of the towel to create a bag and carry the animal out of the house. Be careful not to get bit through the towel and release the bat well away from your home.
• Don't get bit! Bat bites are serious business. If you or another family member gets bit while attempting to catch a bat, close any open window or doors and make every effort to catch the bat. Once you have the animal, do not release it! The animal will have to be tested by local health officials to determine if it carries rabies. If you can't catch the bat, the person who was bitten will have to undergo rabies treatment as a precaution.