Buzz
It can be quite bothersome, even terrifying, when a bat somehow finds its way into your home. Removing the bat can be challenging, especially if it’s flying around in a panic. No matter how scared you are, the best approach is to stay calm and focus on capturing the bat without harming it. With patience and a few simple tips, you can safely and humanely catch the bat and release it back into nature.
Steps
Locate the Bat and Protect Yourself
Search for the bat if it’s hiding. If you’re unsure where the bat is, look for it during the day when it’s likely to be drowsy. This will make it easier to find and capture. Start your search in dimly lit areas, such as the attic or a secluded room. Check places where the bat might hang or hide, such as:
- Curtains
- Behind furniture
- Indoor plants
- Clothes hanging on hooks
- Cracks between couch cushions
- Under or behind cabinets or entertainment devices
Keep pets and others away. The more people around, the more frightened the bat will become, making it harder to catch. Remove pets and children from the room and ask others to leave as well.
Wear thick protective clothing. Before attempting to catch the bat, put on a long-sleeved thick shirt or sweatshirt, long pants, and sturdy boots or shoes. Bats can bite and transmit diseases like rabies, so it’s crucial to cover your body when near the bat, especially if you’re unsure of its location.
- Avoid thin materials like cotton, as bats can bite through fabric.
Wear thick work gloves to protect your hands. Your hands will have the most contact with the bat, so wear thick leather gloves or similarly sturdy work gloves.
If gloves aren’t available, use a thick, sturdy rolled-up shirt. Avoid using towels, as the bat’s claws can get caught in the fabric fibers.
Catch the Bat Using a Bucket or Your Hands
Close the doors and wait for the bat to land if it’s flying around. Eventually, the bat will tire and stop flying. Close the doors to prevent it from entering other rooms and keep an eye on it as it lands. It will likely aim for a spot where it can hang, such as behind curtains, upholstery, clothes on hangers, or even potted plants.
- Stay still and quiet while waiting for the bat to land, as this will help it calm down faster.
- Avoid trying to catch the bat mid-air. This is nearly impossible and will only panic the bat further.
- The bat doesn’t want to touch you, so stay calm if it accidentally flies into you. It will quickly fly away.
Place a bucket or box over the bat. Once the bat has landed, carefully and gently place a bucket, bowl, or box over it. This will prevent it from flying away while you handle the situation.
- Ensure the bucket or box is wide enough to give the bat comfortable space inside without causing harm.
- Using a transparent plastic bucket or box is ideal, as it allows you to see the bat while capturing and moving it.
Slide a piece of cardboard under the bucket or box covering the bat. Use a sturdy piece of cardboard to slide under the bucket, sealing its opening. Keep the bucket close to the wall or surface where the bat is perched, and be careful not to trap the bat inside.
- You can also use the bucket’s lid or the box’s lid if available.
Use both hands to cup the bat if you don’t have a bucket. To catch the bat by hand, approach it slowly and gently, then crouch down and scoop it up softly with both hands, holding it firmly but gently.
- Try to position the bat so its head faces outward near your fingertips to maintain a secure grip.
- If bitten or if bat saliva gets into your eyes, nose, or mouth, seek medical attention immediately. Bats can carry rabies.
Take the bat outside and release it onto a tree. Carefully carry the bucket outdoors to a nearby tree. Tilt the bucket against the tree trunk, extend your arm holding the bucket, and carefully open the cardboard to let the bat jump out.
- If holding the bat in your hands, extend your arm to place it close to the tree trunk. Gently open your hands to let it climb onto the tree.
- Bats typically cannot take off from the ground, so releasing them onto a tree makes it easier for them to escape. This is especially important for bats that are stressed or exhausted after flying indoors.
Seal potential entry points after releasing the bat. Inspect your home for common bat entryways, such as chimneys or gaps leading to attics or basements. Seal these areas or hire a professional to prevent other bats from entering.
- Bats can squeeze into or hide in gaps as small as two fingers wide.
Helping the Bat Escape
Close doors between rooms and turn off the lights. If the bat doesn’t land long enough for you to catch it, try guiding it outside. Once you’ve located the bat, close all doors leading to other rooms and turn off the lights. This creates a calmer environment, helping the bat stay composed and find its way out.
Open windows to let the bat escape. Once the room with the bat is isolated from the rest of the house, create an exit path. Open a large window or several windows, or open an exterior door. The more windows you open, the higher the chances the bat will find its way out!
Try opening windows near where the bat is flying, as this makes it easier for the bat to locate an exit.
Leave the room for a while and maintain silence. Ask everyone, including children, pets, and other adults, to exit the room. Close the door and keep quiet to help the bat calm down.
Check if the bat has left after 30 minutes of closing the door. After half an hour, peek into the room to see if the bat is gone. Use a flashlight to search around. If the bat is still in the room, wait another hour and check again.
- If the bat hasn’t left but has landed, try using a bucket to capture it. If it’s still flying around chaotically, consider calling a pest control service for assistance.
Tips
- If you can’t remove the bat or if bats keep entering your home, contact a pest control service. There might be a bat colony in your attic, basement, or other hidden entry points.
- Stay calm. Remember, the bat is likely just as scared as you are, if not more! Focus on capturing and releasing it without causing harm.
Warnings
- Bats can bite and carry diseases such as rabies, so always wear gloves when handling or approaching a bat.
- If bitten by a bat or if bat saliva comes into contact with your eyes, nose, or mouth, seek medical attention immediately. However, you cannot contract rabies from exposure to bat droppings, blood, urine, or fur.
