Bat In House

What to do if you find a bat in your house. Bats are not normally aggressive even as they are being chased, but will bite in self-defense if they are handled. When handling a bat you should wear heavy leather gloves to avoid being bitten. If bitten or scratched by a bat you should seek medical attention immediately, if possible keeping that bat. A small percentage of bats do carry rabies, less than one percent overall.

Getting rid of a bat in the house may be as easy as opening a window or door allowing the bat to leave on his own. Make sure that all other doors to adjoining rooms are closed leaving just exist only to the outside available. Having a bat box near by will give the bat a alternative place to go once he is free of being inside your home. When installing a bat house,  bat house placement is important to insure that your bat now free of your home will find it’s new home and not re-visit your home.

If this does not work and you want to rid your house of the bat you have some other options, if the bat continues to fly you can try throwing a towel over the bat. The weight of the towel over the bat cause it to fall to the floor. Keeping the towel over the bat bring the towel and bat out side, flip the towel so the bat can fly out on its own. DO NOT put the bat on the ground as most bats cannot take flight from the ground.

If the bat has landed you can try using a box and a flat piece of cardboard to capture the bat. As the bat lays still on the wall or other surface take the box and place it over the bat. Once the box is over the bat take the flat piece of cardboard sliding it between the wall and the box making sure the bat cannot escape. Take the box outside removing the flat piece and letting the bat fly away.

When you go to release the bat and it falls to the ground or is unable to fly the bat may be injured or sick. Gently place the bat back in the box, cover it and contact your local animal control or public health office.