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It can be annoying or even scary when a bat finds its way into your house, and it's tough to get rid of when it's panicked and flying around. No matter how scared you are, staying calm and focusing on catching the bat, not hurting it, is the best way to go. By remaining patient and using a few simple tricks, you can catch the bat and release it outside in a safe, humane way.
Steps
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Find the bat if it's hiding. If you don't know where the bat is, start your search during the daytime, when the bat is asleep and easier to find and catch. Start looking in areas that don't see a lot of light, such as an attic or a secluded room. Look in places that the bat could hang from or crawl into, such as:
- On curtains
- On the back of furniture
- In a houseplant
- On hanging clothes
- Between seat cushions
- Under or behind cabinets or entertainment centers
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Keep pets and other people away. The more people around the bat, the more stressed out and harder to catch it will be. Take any pets and children out of the room, and ask anyone else to leave as well. [1] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Put on heavy, protective clothing. Before you start trying to catch the bat, put on a thick, long-sleeved shirt or sweatshirt, long pants, and sturdy shoes or boots. Bats can bite and carry diseases like rabies, so it's important to protect your skin when you're nearby, especially if you don't know where the bat is. [2] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source
- Avoid thin materials like cotton, which a bat can bite through.
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Wear thick work gloves to protect your hands. [3] X Expert Source Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019. Your hands will be the most exposed to the bat, so put on thick leather gloves, or work gloves of a similarly strong material.If you don't have gloves, use a thick, rolled-up shirt of a heavy material. Avoid using a towel, since the bat's claws can get tangled in the loops.
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Close the doors and wait until the bat lands if it's flying around. The bat will eventually get tired of flying around, so close the doors to keep it in one room and wait for it to land, keeping your eyes on it at all times. It will probably aim for a place where it can hang, such as behind curtains or upholstered furniture, on clothes that are hanging up, or even in house plants. [4] X Research source
- Stay quiet and still while you wait for the bat to land. This will help it calm down more quickly.
- Don't try to catch the bat in mid-air. It's almost impossible, and will only panic the bat more.
- The bat doesn't want to touch you, so stay calm if it accidentally bumps into you. It will flit away as soon as it can.
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Place a tub or bucket over the bat. Once the bat has landed, carefully and quietly place a plastic tub, bucket, or similar container over it. This will prevent the bat from flying away while you work to remove it. [5] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
- Make sure the tub or bucket is large enough to comfortably fit the bat, so you don't accidentally injure it in the process.
- For best results, use a clear tub or bucket so you can see the bat as you trap and transport it.
- You can also drop a towel on top of the bat to capture it. Carefully scoop the bat up with the towel and hold it closed. [6]
X
Expert Source
Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
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Slide a piece of cardboard over the top of the bucket to trap it. Work a piece of cardboard or stiff paper under the bucket to completely cover the opening. Keep the container as close to the wall or surface as possible, and be careful not to pinch the bat as you trap it inside. [7] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
- You can also use the lid of the bucket or tub (if it has one).
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Scoop it up with your hands if you don't have a bucket. To catch the bat with your hands, approach it slowly and quietly, then reach down and smoothly pick it up in both of your hands, keeping a firm but gentle hold on it. [8] X Research source
- Try to hold it so that its head is facing out, near the tips of your fingers, so you can keep the most pressure on its body.
- If the bat bites you, or if you get bat saliva in your eyes, nose, or mouth, seek medical attention immediately, since bats can carry rabies.
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Take the bat outside and release it onto a tree. Quickly and carefully take the bucket outside to a nearby tree. Tilt it against the tree trunk and, holding the container at arms-length, carefully remove the cardboard to let the bat hop out. [9] X Research source
- If you used your hands, hold the bat up against the tree trunk at arms-length. Carefully loosen your grip and let it hop out onto the tree.
- Bats typically can't take flight from the ground, so releasing it onto a tree will help it to escape more easily. This is especially important for a bat that's stressed and fatigued from flying around your house.
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Seal up any potential entries once it's gone. [10] X Expert Source Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019. Check common bat entry points around your house, such as chimneys or openings that lead to attics or cellars. Seal them up as best you can, or hire a contractor to do so, to prevent another bat from getting into your house.- Bats can enter or hide in any space that's big enough for 2 of your fingers.
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Close interior doors into the room and turn off the lights. [11] X Expert Source Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019. If the bat won't land long enough for you to catch it, you can try to encourage it to escape instead. After locating the bat, close any doors to other rooms and turn off the lights. This will create a contained environment that's more comfortable for the bat, helping it to calm down and find an exit. -
Open a window for the bat to escape. [12] X Expert Source Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019. Once the room is sealed off from the rest of the house, provide it an outside exit. Open up a large window (or a few), or prop open a door to the outside. The more windows you open, the more likely the bat will escape! [13] X Research sourceTry to open windows near where the bat has been flying , so it's more likely to find the open air.
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Leave the room for a while and stay quiet. Ask everyone to leave the room, including children, pets, and other adults. Shut the door behind you and stay quiet to help the bat calm down even more.
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Check to see if the bat is gone after 30 minutes. Peek back into the room after about half an hour to see if the bat has left. Use a flashlight to look around for it. If it's still there, wait another hour and check again.
- If the bat still hasn't escaped but has calmed down enough to land, try to trap it with a bucket. If it's still flying around quickly, call pest control for help.
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Expert Q&A
Search
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QuestionWhat do you do if there's a bat trapped in your house?Scott McCombe is the CEO of Summit Environmental Solutions (SES), a family-owned local pest solutions, animal control, and home insulation company based in Northern Virginia. Founded in 1991, SES has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been awarded “Top Rated Professional,” and “Elite Service Award" by HomeAdvisor.Try to isolate the bat in a dark room and close the door. Open a window in the room and leave it until it flies outside. If it doesn't leave on its own, put on leather gloves. Wrap the bat in a towel and carry it outside.
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Tips
- If you can't get rid of the bat, or if you consistently find bats in your house, call pest control. Bats may be living in your attic or cellar, or getting in through an entry you can't find.Thanks
- Stay calm. Remember that the bat is just as scared as you are, if not more so! Aim to catch it and release it humanely, not hurt it.Thanks
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Warnings
- Bats can bite and carry diseases such as rabies, so you should always wear gloves when handling or getting close to one.Thanks
- If you're bitten or get the bat's saliva in your eyes, nose, or mouth, get medical attention right away. You can't get rabies from touching the bat's feces (called guano), blood, urine, or fur.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/rabies-prevention
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/understanding-rabies
- ↑ Scott McCombe. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
- ↑ https://www.fws.gov/story/five-methods-safely-remove-bat-your-home
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html
- ↑ Scott McCombe. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html
- ↑ https://www.fws.gov/story/five-methods-safely-remove-bat-your-home
- ↑ https://www.fws.gov/story/five-methods-safely-remove-bat-your-home
- ↑ Scott McCombe. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
- ↑ Scott McCombe. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
- ↑ Scott McCombe. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
- ↑ https://www.fws.gov/story/five-methods-safely-remove-bat-your-home
About This Article
Article Summary
X
Before you try to catch a bat in your house, throw on some heavy, protective clothing, like a thick long-sleeved shirt, pants, and work gloves. Then, close the bat in a single room and calmly wait for it to land if it's flying around. Once it's landed, take a tub or bucket and carefully place it over the bat so it can't fly away, and slide a piece of cardboard or stiff paper over the top of the bucket to trap the bat inside. Finally, take the bat outside and release it near a tree so it flies off. To learn how to catch a bat with your hands, or how to scare one out of your house, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Very good article and advice. I sent my wife and dog to another room and closed the door. The bat was in my den with a high vaulted ceiling flying in circles. I opened an outside door hoping it would exit but it didn't. It flew behind some curtains and landed on the floor. I located a large jar with lid and some thin cardboard. I then put the open end of the jar over the bat and slid the cardboard under the jar and bat; flipped over the jar and cardboard and quickly put the lid on jar." ..." more
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"Very good article and advice. I sent my wife and dog to another room and closed the door. The bat was in my den with a high vaulted ceiling flying in circles. I opened an outside door hoping it would exit but it didn't. It flew behind some curtains and landed on the floor. I located a large jar with lid and some thin cardboard. I then put the open end of the jar over the bat and slid the cardboard under the jar and bat; flipped over the jar and cardboard and quickly put the lid on jar."
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"Looks like I missed my chance to catch it. Should have gone online for directions right away. The bat was on a valance for about half an hour, then started flying around again. This morning nothing. Guess I'll have to get some gloves and container and look for it, or call for help. I may be too old to catch it myself. Thanks for suggestions and warnings!"
..."
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"I had a bat in my house last night. I found it this morning clinging to a large wooden statue. While trying to get it into a container, it fell to the floor where I covered it with a towel. It chirped madly while I picked it up and left it outside. The article really helped me deal with it. "
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"I put two cats, who were watching the festivities closely, into a bedroom, opened a sliding door and when the bat started flying around, fell on my behind while trying to guide it to the door. After that, with a few more tries, I managed to show it out."
..."
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"Two "wings" up! After two days with a bat in the house I tried the tip of leaving the porch light on, turning off all other lights, and making scratching noises on a plastic cutting board. It worked, the bat flew out! (My 6'3" boyfriend was scared)"
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