I have a BAT IN HOUSE Can't hit him. He is always on ceiling How do I get him to go?

[Root Cause]

open a window and close the door behind you. he will find his way out.
Not that anyone cares here but it is illegal to kill them so I would not tell anyone if you did.

My wife woke me up one night saying she was hearing something. Turned on the light and a bat was flying around our ceiling fan in sync with a blade. That was just about 4 or 5 feet above our heads while we slept. yuck!

 

[the old grind]

I opened the patio door hoping a bat would fly out but he didn't. Then I saw the vert blinds turned 'half-open' and thought he'd see/detect the whole wall as vague. As soon as I closed/flattened the blinds he flew right out the now more 'distinct' opening.

 

[jyoutz]

Unfortunately, we've been through this several times and once the entire family had to get rabies shots because we let the bat go instead of capturing it and having it tested for rabies.

Rabies, while extremely rare to contract, is statistically 100% fatal.

So, some notes on catching bats.

Bats can't take off from the ground. That's why they appear to be dead or injured when down on the ground. They flop around on the ground because they have to climb up higher to be able to drop or jump down to gain some air speed to then fly.

Get some heavy leather gloves and a tupperware-type container. Slap it off the wall with a broom if you can. Pretty hard. It should knock it down and you should be able to grasp it with the gloves and put it in the tupperware. Don't kill it and freeze it. That damages the brain that has to be examined for rabies lesions. Take it to your local place to have it tested.

If that doesn't work, as others have said, a fishing net would work as long as it has small enough mesh. A bat can get through pretty small spaces.

We keep a butterfly net by the back door for bugs and bats. Works great. Kinda out of season right now, but that's what we use.

Why would rabies be a concern if nobody was bitten by the bat? That’s the only way it is transmitted.

 

[lman]

Why would rabies be a concern if nobody was bitten by the bat? That’s the only way it is transmitted.

Several years ago a child in my area died from rabies after getting bit by a bat. Why would you wait to get bit before disposing of a bat in your house.

 

[the old grind]

No one said they'd wait until bitten, but we may wonder why test for rabies if nobody was. I wasn't bitten and didn't have to kill the bat. I mean they're not like mice or spiders, IIRC both leading causes of heart attacks.

 

[ArtMech]

No one said they'd wait until bitten, but we may wonder why test for rabies if nobody was. I wasn't bitten and didn't have to kill the bat. I mean they're not like mice or spiders, IIRC both leading causes of heart attacks.

Probably not all of us know, that bats are seeking places for hibernation. If there are many of them around, there may be not enough such places in the nature. That's why they are coming closer to the people or to the abandoned houses to find warmer places.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Yeah, sorry. Not here. We don't have bats here anyway, not that I've ever seen flying around anyway, but if one got in our house it would be pellet gun time and bye-bye bat.

They're all well and good and welcome to the outside world with no ill will from me. But once they cross that threshold into my house, they have chosen their demise.

Pellet gun and a garbage can.

 

[jyoutz]

Several years ago a child in my area died from rabies after getting bit by a bat. Why would you wait to get bit before disposing of a bat in your house.

I was reacting to people talking about getting rabies shots, but nobody was bitten. Yes, most of us would want to remove a bat from the house.

 

[Jstpssng]

I would prefer to release it outside unharmed and have done so in the past; over the course of a night a bat will eat it's own weight in bugs. A fishing net works well for catching him, as others have mentioned. I then would figure out how it got inside; the OP has already stated that it probably flew in through the door.

 

[MossRoad]

Why would rabies be a concern if nobody was bitten by the bat? That’s the only way it is transmitted.

A few reasons.

First, most people cannot tell if they've been bitten or not, as bat teeth are so small and sharp and leave a very small, almost un-detectable bite.

Second, it doesn't have to bit you. Its saliva is what carries the virus. If that saliva gets into your eye, nose or mouth as it flies over you, you can be infected.

Likewise, if it's saliva gets into a hangnail or other open wound.

Third, if you are asleep in a room where a bat is present, you'd likely never know you were bitten if you were. Nor would you know if the bat was around your mouth or eyes if you're a heavy sleeper.

Fourth, if you have kids in the house, well, same things apply.

Fifth, if you have a pet you'd never know if it had contact with the bat, especially if the bat has been in the house for a few days. If the pet hasn't been vaccinated against rabies, or is out of date, you'd never know if that pet has been exposed.

Sixth, even if your pet (and even you) are vaccinated against rabies, most veterinarians, doctors and health departments recommend your pet (and you) get rabies booster shots if you've been exposed to a rabid (or unknown) animal.

Seventh, rabies can stay dormant in a human for a year before showing any symptoms.

10-year-old girl dies of rabies after bat bite

www.nbcnews.com

Lastly, once you show symptoms, it's too late. You're going to die.

You'll never know if the bat was rabid if you let it go.

So, again, while the chances of contracting rabies is small, if you do, it's statistically 100% fatal. Only you can decide for yourself if it's worth the risk or not.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

This is one circumstance where you do not remove your 12g Remington from the cabinet...

We had one once, but had two sets of sliding doors so maybe eight feet total between them. I think Mom tried to swipe at it with a broom, but it went straight out.

My neighbor should have read this prior to the sheetrock and romex repair in thier ceiling. Used sometype of semi-automatic shotgun, it was obvious the trigger had been pulled twice.
Vacuumed up all the celulose insulation off the floor for them too. I didn't even crack a smile when I heard her tell the story, it was all serious business. Still get a chuckle out of it.

 

[arto98607]

I think he entered in evening while I carried out garbage bags It was just after the door open to take two bags garbage out. Bat slipped in in that short time.

How can I capture the bat and take it out into the trees? the bat doesn't move all day but he high up near ceiling on high part of drapes by window.
Bat moves in evening flying in circles. I open door as it flying. In times before opening door and creatures mostly just fly out. This one will not do that. It's 3 days now and we are getting tired of our guest. I also worry of some germs or disease bat might be carrying. 20 some years ago my daughter had a Bat in House and Bat in at night . her daughter was only few months old. doctors recommended series of shots for everyone in house to protect in case of rabies I believe. In that case health guys said should have captured bast to test it. In our case its just me and my wife.

Anyone have some ideas how to get Bat out? All ideas will be appreciated.

You all Have a Very Happy Healthy & Prosperious New year. BE SAFE...... Coffeeman

I have very successfully used a vacuum cleaner with couple of hose extension pipes, but it was a one way trip for the bat.....

 

[ArtMech]

10-year-old girl dies of rabies after bat bite

www.nbcnews.com

OK, it has happened once in 47 years. And here is nothing written, how the girl has got that bite. Maybe she touched a bat by hand or so.
I don't say we need to love the bats. I'm just thinking they may live their life as we do, because they are not a competitor to humans.

In my opinion we are staring to have much more serious invasive enemy around us. It's an Asian giant hornet which IS our competitor. I have had a fight with them last summer/autumn until exterminated their huge nest. They completely destroyed all families of my neighbor's bees. They fed their larvae with bee larvae.

 

[MossRoad]

OK, it has happened once in 47 years. And here is nothing written, how the girl has got that bite. Maybe she touched a bat by hand or so.
I don't say we need to love the bats. I'm just thinking they may live their life as we do, because they are not a competitor to humans.

In my opinion we are staring to have much more serious invasive enemy around us. It's an Asian giant hornet which IS our competitor. I have had a fight with them last summer/autumn until exterminated their huge nest. They completely destroyed all families of my neighbor's bees. They fed their larvae with bee larvae.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I enjoy having the bats around. They are a very beneficial animals. But with the number of bats that have tested positive for rabies in our area, if one gets in the house, it's getting tested. Sorry bat, but that's the way it is.

 

[kenmbz]

We used to use sheets. Open door, get behind it with a sheet and move towards the door.
Bats lived in the attic with access through an attached wood shed.
Sometimes would chase bugs through open door.

The sheet worked will the 3 times we did it, neighbors are the ones who told us to do this.
sheet interferes with the radar and I guess makes them want to fly the other way?

 

[MossRoad]

We used to use sheets. Open door, get behind it with a sheet and move towards the door.
Bats lived in the attic with access through an attached wood shed.
Sometimes would chase bugs through open door.

The sheet worked will the 3 times we did it, neighbors are the ones who told us to do this.
sheet interferes with the radar and I guess makes them want to fly the other way?

Good idea. Sheet probably looks like a wall to them.

What's kinda funny is a bat flying in figure 8's in your living room looks huge. Once you get them caught, and they're sitting there in your gloved hand or a something, most aren't much bigger than a large mouse. And ooooo do they get mad when you have them caught. Little sharp teeth and screeching. Quite the show from the little critters.

I think I'm gonna put up a few bat houses outside this year.

 

[ArtMech]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I enjoy having the bats around. They are a very beneficial animals. But with the number of bats that have tested positive for rabies in our area, if one gets in the house, it's getting tested. Sorry bat, but that's the way it is.

No, no I don't get you wrong. If there comes a danger of rabies, you need to do something to avoid bat entering into living part of a house. It's a good idea to hang sheet or a piece of plastic mesh in the door or window. Never tried, but it should work.

 

[caver]

In case it hasn't been posted Batcon has info on their website. Batcon It seems it wasn't that long ago White Nose Syndrome was wiping out thousands of bats. I was no longer cave exploring by that time in my life so it didn't affect me. One popular theroy was the fungus was being spread by cavers on their dirty boots and cave attire.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Find all the firecrackers you can get, even some fireworks if you have them. Set them all off at once with a door open.

If your neighbors come over after that ask them if they know how to get rid of a bat.

I put a glass jar over one once to capture it.

 

[MossRoad]

No, no I don't get you wrong. If there comes a danger of rabies, you need to do something to avoid bat entering into living part of a house. It's a good idea to hang sheet or a piece of plastic mesh in the door or window. Never tried, but it should work.

Yeah like I do to save baby swallows when they are falling down from the nests. And successfully, since the parents find them in the new house and keep feeding. Until all together fly away.
There is a video if coffeeman wouldn't mind.

We live in a 100+ year old house. The bats don't come in through doors and windows. We have screens on all of them. The bats come in through cracks in the house that we cannot find. It's not the chimney, as we have 1/4" mesh hardware cloth over that. My guess is they come in behind the vinyl siding somewhere under the edge where it meets the sill plate. Behind the vinyl is 1/4" foam board, and behind that wood shingle siding. We also get mice in the house several times per year. If mice can get in, so can bats.

Plus, our house has balloon construction. The walls are hollow from basement to attic. If a bat got into the attic, it could find it's way down through the walls into the basement, then fly up into the main living area. All kinds of places.