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Original poster

Help — bat trapped in house

24 replies

GladiatorSandals · 03/01/2023 23:50

A bat has somehow got into the house. I thought I’d got rid of it earlier by getting it into the hall, leaving the front door open and closing doors to the rooms, but it’s reappeared. Any thoughts on how best to get it out? I think I know what room it’s now in, and have shut it in, but can’t leave the window open all night…?

OP posts:
Ariela · 03/01/2023 23:54

Bats work out where they are by sound, so I imagine it's done a few circuits and worked out the windows are open and hopefully gone. I would carefully go in to the room, (I assume you left the windows open) and check if it has gone after 15 minutes.

Netaporter · 03/01/2023 23:55

Large bath towel and gloves. Throw the towel towards the bat as it flies around. It does take a few attempts. Then you can gently place outside.

queencookiemonster · 03/01/2023 23:58

Did you leave the lights on when you left it in the hall? Insects are attracted to lights so bats will sometimes go for an area with lights to catch them. I'd try repeating the approach from earlier with lights off and hope it spies something tasty under a street light

Original poster
GladiatorSandals · 04/01/2023 00:00

Ariela · 03/01/2023 23:54

Bats work out where they are by sound, so I imagine it's done a few circuits and worked out the windows are open and hopefully gone. I would carefully go in to the room, (I assume you left the windows open) and check if it has gone after 15 minutes.

I couldn’t leave the windows open — dealing with obstreperous offspring upstairs, and DH is away, and windows look out onto the street — so will have to leave it till it next appears. Is that likely to be after dark again?

Unfortunately it’s an old house with very high ceilings, so not sure my bath towel technique is going to cut it…

Thanks for help!

OP posts:
Original poster
GladiatorSandals · 04/01/2023 00:02

queencookiemonster · 03/01/2023 23:58

Did you leave the lights on when you left it in the hall? Insects are attracted to lights so bats will sometimes go for an area with lights to catch them. I'd try repeating the approach from earlier with lights off and hope it spies something tasty under a street light

I did. Again, unfortunately, it’s a tall, skinny Victorian house, so I think that while I thought it was heading for the open air, it just headed upstairs — we have a lot of stairs…

OP posts:
queencookiemonster · 04/01/2023 00:04

@GladiatorSandals Oh poo. What about electrical devices? Bats communicate on different frequencies depending on the species - maybe something electrical in the same range? And yes, I'm a nerd.

Trainham · 04/01/2023 00:07

When I had a bat.i blocked stairs with a sheet to prevent it going upstairs.i managed to shut downstairs doors leaving the room it was in open.when it flew into hallway shut said door then opened front door with porchlight on and eventually it flew out by its self.

Original poster
GladiatorSandals · 04/01/2023 00:14

Trainham · 04/01/2023 00:07

When I had a bat.i blocked stairs with a sheet to prevent it going upstairs.i managed to shut downstairs doors leaving the room it was in open.when it flew into hallway shut said door then opened front door with porchlight on and eventually it flew out by its self.

I’m just going to hope I got it closed in one room, as the stairs/landings are too high to block off! And that it develops enough sense to fly out the window. It was swooping around in panic earlier, as I was trying to stop my nervy ten year old doing similar…

OP posts:
userlotsanumbers · 04/01/2023 00:16

Live action demo of towel technique:

Allsnotwell · 04/01/2023 00:19

Check for Bat people in FB they send someone round to help

Allsnotwell · 04/01/2023 00:19

They’re protected! So be careful.

Wagsandclaws · 04/01/2023 00:27

Ah ha ha ha - that video - I've seen it before but it makes me laugh every time.

We used to get the odd bat fly in to our old longhouse when we lived in Devon. We left the window open and they would always fly out.

Good luck op, gently does it.

Original poster
GladiatorSandals · 04/01/2023 00:29

userlotsanumbers · 04/01/2023 00:16

Live action demo of towel technique:

I’d forgotten Derry and his bat!!! Alas, Derry has much lower ceilings, and a more cooperative bat. 😀

OP posts:
Ineedwinenow · 04/01/2023 00:33

I work in Ecology, conservation and Bat rehab, your county will have a bat care team so give them a call in the morning (Google them for contact info) and they should help! Realistically all you need to do is find which room they are in and open the door/window and they will use echolocation to get out but as this isn’t an option a bat carer will help! Good luck! Bats are amazing mammals so thank you for asking for help and not freaking out like a lot of people do!

healthadvice123 · 04/01/2023 00:37

This is my worst nightmare and why I won't sleep with windows open
I thought they hibernated now but obviously not
I would call the local bat people

chipsarnie · 04/01/2023 00:42

Had this when we first moved to the country. Bit of a shock for three people who'd been living in very urban London a fortnight previously.

We turned all the lights off, opened the fairly small window - and shut the door. Went back ten minutes later and it had gone. Don't know if it was relevant but where we lived the garden and house were utterly pitch black at night, so it may have helped if it didn't know where living room ended and garden started. Good luck!

IcakethereforeIam · 04/01/2023 00:45

Don't touch it with your bare hands, it's very unlikely but they can carry diseases. The Bat Trust can advise you. Good luck to the pair of you.

RoundedToast · 04/01/2023 00:53

I thought I’d that video as soon as I saw the thread title! 😆

Good luck OP, I hope it finds a way out.

pinkpotatoez · 04/01/2023 00:56

I'd still be screaming now! I think opening the window and hoping for the best is the only way.

LuluBlakey1 · 04/01/2023 01:02

I thought bats would be hibernating now. We have had an occasional bat in the house because we get them in the garden. We usually shut the room door and open the windows wide and turn the lights off in the room. They find their way out.

LuluBlakey1 · 04/01/2023 01:06

If you go on Twitter find a woman called Amy her twitter handle is lizardschwartz
She is a bat rescuer and carer and gives great advice on bats.

Frenchcaro · 04/01/2023 01:17

Lights out in the room except for a light on the window sill (ie. mobile’s torch). Leave the window open obviously. It always works.

pearlearringgirl · 04/01/2023 05:01

I think bats are protected in this country… I remember someone at work telling me they had an infestation in their attic and pest control couldn’t remove them because they are a protected species. She just had to learn to live with them! 😱

So hopefully it won’t set up residence and have babies 🤞🏻

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