How To Find A Bat Hiding In Your House

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, wait. It's just a bat! How do I get it out of my house? These are the thoughts that came to my mind when I discovered a bat fluttering away in some corner of my attic. I'm not even sure how it got in, but I could swear that I heard something silently flying around and banging against the windows at night. It was only after I convinced one of my children to go upstairs and have a look that I realized it was a bat. Well, I wasn't too scared, honestly. I am used to having bats around where I live, and fortunately, most of them aren't half as dangerous as people think they are. Most of them don't have rabies or other diseases, and they're just as scared as you and I. So, instead of calling an exterminator, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Howdy! I'm Stacy. And like me, if you have ever faced a bat problem in your home, then I'm here to tell you that you don't need to be scared. More importantly, you don't need to resort to violence to get rid of them. Keep reading, and I will tell you how to find a bat hiding in your house and also how to get rid of it!

Tips To Find A Bat Hiding In Your House

There are a number of ways in which you can humanely catch a bat and release it. But to do that, you have to find it first. Let me begin this guide by telling you what I did. Remember, if you can't do it yourself, call in a professional who will catch the bat and free it. Do not resort to violence or extermination if you can help it. Are you wondering, "how long can a bat survive in a house?” Well! The answer is - up to 6 months!

1. Locate The Bat

Obviously, the first thing to do is to find exactly where the bat is. It is best to do this during the daytime when the bat is sleeping. Of course, keep in mind that bats don't see very well during the day and can get scared by your sudden presence. The bat will typically be hiding in a dark, secluded place. Begin by looking in the most obvious places, and if you can't find it, look behind the curtains, under floor items, and in the attic. That's where I found my bat!

2. Wear Protective Gear

Never, ever try and handle a bat with your bare hands. Even if the bat isn't dangerous or doesn't carry any diseases, they have sharp claws and may bite you just out of fear. It is best to wear thick leather gloves or any other kind of thick protective gloves. Furthermore, wear full sleeved shirts and full pants, just to be on the safe side. If you don't have thick gloves, then use a big, crumpled up t-shirt to trap the bat. Don't use a towel, as the bat's claws will get entangled in the towel and cause more distress to both the bat and you.

3. Keep Pets & Children Away

Thankfully, my 'child' is an adult, so I didn't have to worry about this one, but yes, I did have to keep my dogs in the other room to do this. Not only will the presence of your children and pets stress out the bat even more, but there is also a real danger of the bat biting or clawing them. Moreover, your dog may just think it's a toy and want to jump up and grab it in their mouths. That could be very dangerous. So, make sure that you keep everyone out of the room and tackle this on your own.

4. Use A Bucket, A Box Or A Cloth

Now comes the scary bit. You will have to actually trap the bat. The method I used was to catch the bat in a large-sized T-shirt. I located the little creature - it was hanging comfortably from the inside of one of my lamps in the attic. I simply grabbed it, as gently as I could, and with a calm set of nerves, walked outside and set it free near a big tree. Now, you don't have to use this method if you're too scared to grab it. You can also use a box or a bucket. It makes sense to use a clear bucket so you can see the bat inside it. Once you locate the bat, place the bucket or box over it and trap it. Then, take a thick cardboard and slide it over the mouth of the bucket or the box. You have effectively trapped the bat inside and can let it free wherever you wish to. It makes sense to free the bat near a tree or somewhere at a distance from your home, so it doesn't find its way back into your house again.

5. Let It Find Its Way Out At Night

If the bat is not trapped in your living room or bedroom, there is another method you could use to get rid of it. First, locate which room the bat is hiding in. Once you have done this, switch off all the lights (bats can see well in the dark) and open up your windows or door. Leave the room and come back and check the next morning. In all probability, the bat will find its way out during the night.

Final Words

Well, I had quite an adventure getting rid of my little house guest! Remember, there is no shame in calling for professional help if you cannot do this yourself. The only thing to keep in mind is that most bats are not really dangerous. If you think the bat that is trapped in your home is dangerous, it makes more sense to call professionals to take care of it. However, you don't need to resort to violence. Simply catch it and set it free. With that, I've come to the end of my guide. I hope you enjoyed reading this. Until next time!