How do I get rid of a bat?

Question

Ok so I saw a bat in my house last night and my brother and I were totally freaked out. I know that they're afraid of light( I think) but, if it shows up again, how do I get rid of it!!!?? PLEASe try to help!

What are they afraid of?

What can I do to prevent them from coming in?

I'm so scared!

Answer 1

they usually leave

Answer 2

First off, calm down.  Bats are way more afraid of you than you are of them.  They are not afraid of light...that's vampires you're thinking of.  Ideally, you want to just have it fly out of your home on it's own, however, bats can carry rabies and you may want to capture the bat (alive) to have it tested.  Otherwise you will have to go through the rabies vaccination process which is NOT FUN.  It's a series of shots and they hurt.  I would call your local animal control and have them respond.  If you can avoid killing the bat, please do.  Bats are actually wonderful creatures that do WONDERS to control the insect population.  They do not suck human blood and they are totally harmless to humans other than the rabies issue.  Contact a professional that is willing to humanely remove the animal from your house and have it tested for rabies.  If the bat is not sick you guys have nothing to worry about.  Did you know that some people actually install bat houses on the outside of their home to attract bats and to prevent them from coming inside?  It's the best and the most humane insect control solution a homeowner could have.  Again, call your local animal control.  If you don't know how to reach them, you can contact your local non-emergency police and they will assist you further.  Again, don't panic.  I've had a bat fly into my home once and we were able to capture it in a large salad bowl against the ceiling, cover it with a piece of paper and release it outside.  We were not concerned about rabies because it did not touch any of us and was healthy.  Realize that rabid animals do not act normal.  A healthy bat will fly with expert navigation and do everything he can to find an escape.  A rabid bat will act sick and have unusual behavior (poor navigation, confusion).  The chance of this bat being sick is probably very low.  He may have already found his way out as well.  Get a bathouse and give them a place to nest outside where they can control the mosquito population and stay out of your house.  Good luck.

Answer 3

I'm sure the bat is just as anxious to avoid you as you are to avoid it.  He was attracted to the light and more than likely flew in behind you while you left a door ajar or he found a small opening in your attic eves.  He's a night hunter and more than likely will try to leave to go outside to hunt.  You can either track him down and catch him in a butterfly net or just go about your business until he turns up.  Turn off the lights in most of your house and wait quietly.  If he's in the house still, he'll fly through the rooms about standing height and try to find an exit.  Leave as many doors open as you can to allow his exit.  Otherwise forget about him.

To prevent others from coming in, search for small opening that he might have come in.  Broken windows in the attic or areas where the insulation under the eaves may be missing.  

A green solution is to put up bat houses outside away from your house.  Bats like to roost during the day in dark areas.  They are born pest controllers.  They eat their value in mosquitoes and other harmful insects.

Remember that your fright is based upon the fact that bats have been known to carry rabies and some will say that bats go for your head and end up in your hair.  Ask around.  How many people have actually been bitten by a rabid bat or had one curl up in their hair?  It's not a number worther of being afraid of bats.  The cases are few and far between.  They'll leave you alone if you leave them alone, just like bees and snakes and mice, which are probably more prominent in your house during the winter than you realize.

I sound braver than I am.  We had a few bats in our house.  Three actually within a few days time.  We waited till late at night and heard them squeaking as they flew through the rooms looking for insects and a way out.  My husband caught them in a fishing net and set them loose outside.  I stayed under the bed covers, but felt rather foolish about doing so.

Good luck with your new friend.