Bats are generally not aggressive; so, if you find one in the house, it is very likely that it is confused or lost. They are just as afraid of you as you are of them, so it's important to stay calm. It can be easy to get rid of a single bat flying around the house, and while getting rid of their nest in the attic is slightly more complex, with some knowledge you can clear the house and bring these animals back to the natural environment they belong to.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Encourage a Flying Bat to Leave the House
Step 1. Protect yourself and your family
Bats are not aggressive animals and most of them survive by eating insects. It is very rare for a bat to attack a person, but as with all wild animals, there is a risk that it can transmit rabies or other infectious diseases.
- Wear thick gloves if you plan to come into contact with a bat or are trying to catch it.
- Keep children and pets safe in a room where the bat cannot enter.
- If possible, avoid direct contact with the specimen.
Step 2. Lock him up
These animals fly using echolocation instead of sight, so the different noises in the house can prevent the bat from finding its way out. When it is in a room that has a window or door that leads to the outside, close the access road to the other rooms, to prevent the animal from going to other places in the house.
- Turn off all lights in the room and those outside the door or window.
- Also turn off the TV, radio, or air conditioner that is near the exit, as the bat may avoid that area.
- Try not to make too many noises, as it can fidget and start behaving in less predictable ways.
Step 3. Open the door or window
Most bats don't like to be inside homes; these are wild animals that prefer to remain in their natural habitat. He's probably looking for a way out - by providing him with a gateway to fresh air you can solve the problem.
- Choose a way out to direct the bat, but open the other windows as well, in case the animal decides to fly in another direction.
- Attach sheeting with thumbtacks or other clips to block doorless passages leading into other rooms.
Step 4. Narrow the bat's flight area
Hold a tarp in front of you at arm's length to create a craft barrier or some kind of wall. You can ask a friend or family member to help you with this step to make your job easier.
- Move slowly with the towel towards the animal, to limit its flight space and push it towards the exit.
- You and your friend try to position yourself in such a way that it is difficult for the bat to fly in different directions from the exit.
- Slowly approach the animal and the exit, until the animal has no choice but to leave.
Step 5. Secure the house once the bat is gone
Now that he's finally out of the house, close any access points he might enter once more. It is unlikely that he will want to re-enter, but if he is confused there is a risk.
- Close any doors and windows you opened to create an escape route.
- Check the rest of the house, and if there are any openings the bat could use, seal them.
Method 2 of 3: Catch and Release a Bat
Step 1. Wait for the animal to land
If you try to catch him when he is moving, you risk injuring him, as well as the fact that he may bite or scratch you because he is scared. Be patient and try not to make too much noise that could frighten him, so as to encourage him to land on the ground.
- By catching the animal while it flies you can injure it or throw it into panic, prompting it to bite you.
- Waiting for it to stop gives you a better chance of catching it safely, both for you and for the animal itself.
Step 2. Use a small box or bucket to catch it
When it is stationary on the ground, you can use these tools or others like it to trap it. Find a container that is larger than the volume the animal occupies in a static position, to avoid injuring it by squeezing its wing or ear.
- Approach slowly and quietly, then quickly place the container on top of the bat so it can't escape.
- Slowly and gently slide a card or container lid under the box to lock the bat and keep it from escaping.
- Bring the closed box outside and release the animal into the garden. Although it is best to release it after dark, if you have caught it during the day you should not keep it in the container until that time.
Step 3. Catch the bat with a net or blanket
Another way to catch it is to use a rather large fabric or net when the animal is stationary on the ground. Depending on the thickness of the material, this method may foresee the need for more direct contact with the animal.
- Slowly approach with the fabric or net in front of you.
- Quickly throw your chosen material over the bat, to stop it from flying away.
- The net immediately traps him; if you have chosen a cloth or blanket, you must use it to gently wrap the animal.
- Bring the bat outside while it is still in the tarp or net, then release it. The ideal would be to free him after dark, but if you have caught him during the day, you cannot keep him trapped until that time.
Method 3 of 3: Get rid of the Bats that Live in the House
Step 1. Examine the situation
You need to locate the entry and exit points of the house if you want to prevent the bats from returning once you get rid of them. These animals often settle in attics, so you need to look for cracks in house siding, open windows or other cracks.
- Many old house attics have cracks large enough for bats to sneak in; you have to carefully check these areas, because these animals only need very small spaces to be able to enter.
- Make sure traditional openings, such as windows and barn hatches, are securely closed.
Step 2. Seal the entry and exit routes
When you have located the different openings through which the animals entered the house, seal them all but one; try to leave the main street open.
- Determine which opening your bats use most by looking at the amount of droppings in the area.
- Other holes and crevices can be as small as 1-2 cm in diameter and you can seal them with putty or a piece of wood.
Step 3. Mount a "one way" device
This system allows the bats to leave the house in the evening, as usual, but prevents them from re-entering; there are numerous models that you can find on the market or that you can build.
- Nets and mosquito nets can become one-way devices if you position them so that the animal can easily crawl out of them, but put the opening low enough that a flying bat won't be able to find it.
- Funnels or "bat cones" greatly reduce the diameter of the access route, thus preventing the animal from re-entering while flying.
- You can purchase the one-way devices at pet stores or hardware stores if you don't want to build your own.
Step 4. Build your one-way exclusion system
Although it is possible to buy a wide range of models to get rid of bats, you can also build a device at home without much difficulty; all you need is a mosquito net and tacks (or a staple gun).
- Put the mosquito net on the main access / exit of the bats, making sure that it is well adherent to the wall of the house and that in the central area of the hole it is slightly loose.
- Gradually reduce the space of the loose mosquito net downwards, forming a tip about 2-3 cm wide at the base; in this way, the device takes on the appearance of a funnel that narrows downwards, placed on the main access.
- Animals are able to slide out of the hole in the base of the mosquito net, but are unable to land while in flight and re-enter.
Step 5. Close the opening of the one-way device
Once all the bats have left the house, you need to close the access to make sure no animals find their way back.
- Bats have quite a long lifespan and good memories, so they may be tempted to take refuge in the house again if you don't take action.
- These animals do not have teeth or claws that can open entrances in barriers, so if you seal all access routes they should not be able to re-enter.
Step 6. Clean up the area where the animals have lived
When the area is safe and free of bats, you need to clean and eliminate their droppings. The feces and urine of these animals could be a problem for you and your family.
- Large amounts of bat guano can cause wood to rot and compromise the integrity of the building.
- Excrement can also promote the formation of mold.
- Get rid of this dirt with a vacuum cleaner and a universal cleaner; when finished, remember to wash your hands.
Warnings
- Minimize contact with bats, as they can transmit rabies (as well as other contagious diseases).
- Always wash your hands after touching a wild animal.
