Following on from the Rat in the kitchen… there’s a bat in my lounge (what am I gonna do?!)

[Chardonnay73]

So. Live rurally. And in the recent hot weather a bat has flown into the lounge and taken up residence on the ceiling beams 😱
It comes out at dark (obviously) and flies around having a high old time.
We’ve tried catching it and failed - these things are fast!
We’ve tried leaving all the doors and windows open overnight, but it’s still there!! We’ve rigged up a camera to track its nocturnal activities, and quite frankly it’s beginning to freak us out now. It’s been 10 days! We have rang the bat preservation society and they can’t send anyone out until next week 🤦‍♀️
Any bright ideas on how to evict Barry?

Neverdropyourmooncup thats an excellent suggestion.

There is another way, during the day when he’s sleeping uou can get a soft towel, a ladder and gently pick him up and release him outside

Do not do this!!!! Apart from it being illegal to touch a bat unless it is injured and you’re rescuing it, do not release it outside in daylight - it’s very unlikely to find its original roost and is unlikely to survive if it has to fly around in daylight looking for a new one.
Unfortunately it sounds like you have the perfect home for a bat! If it’s been there for ten days already it must be finding food and water (any water standing in a sink or draining board would likely be enough) and if you’ve got lots of flies and moths they’ll be keeping it going, though you must have a lot as they need thousands a night - either that or it’s going to get hungry and be more inclined to move further on its hunt. I agree about your concern re accidentally letting in more - I’ve had a maternity roost here over the last couple of months (but luckily in the outside weatherboarding) but had to keep all upstairs windows shut just in case, because like you, our beamed house would probably be ideal for them! Maybe restrict opening the doors (and lights off) til just around dusk and try to reduce the space as PP suggested (sounds like that might be difficult if you’re in a barn though). Tricky situation, you’re probably going to have to wait for the bat society to get out to you and in the meantime enjoy your new friend 🦇

@DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat, we live on a farm so the flies are horrendous! Particularly this year. I’m just worried about him, he needs to go back to his proper environment and we need to be able to watch tv without fear of being dive bombed by a very flappy thing!!

Was staying in a very rural b and b once and was woken up by what I thought was a big moth. 5 bats were flapping round the room. 5! It was hilarious. Luckily I love bats. They made their way out again eventually but not before a good hour of whizzing about

I would go on holiday for a week! I couldn’t handle that

[quote Notebooksarefabulous]Im also reminded of the Irish guy in his kitchen!

[/quote] Was coming on solely to post this too

@MrsJVJ

Purposely in a colander that is. It took approx 55294 attempts. I had a shower cap on too for extra protection. Still haunts me to this day.

Someone I know used to use an empty laundry basket to remove them from her children’s bedroom. However, they are protected and I would just wait till the bat man arrives.

Maureen you’re no help behind the door!

Sympathies, we had one in our first floor flat in Manchester suburbs once, it was huge and terrifying!

If in doubt - I'd always phone the National Bat Helpline. They then field the call out to the area that the bat is in (I am a volunteer in Hampshire to look after bats) We have a Whatsapp group where details are put in the group with the postcode and whoever is close and can attend, pops out to get the bat and we then look after them until they are hopefully able to be released.

If its flying around and moving, then it's a very good sign as it potentially isn't injured so it's a quick job - catch, check over and release at dusk.

If you ever come across a bat that's on the ground - especially in the day time, then if possible, pick it up WITH GLOVES and pop in a small box with holes and a towel. Give it some fresh water ( in a milk carton top) and call the National Bat helpline - gives the bat the best chance of survival and also helps the volunteers.

Also - keep a record of where it was found - this helps people in regards to working out if there is a roost nearby and volunteers always try and release the bat as close to possible to where it was found.

They are amazing creatures, incredibly lovely and every single one I've looked after has its own personality.

I didn't know that Water! Another reason to love them

Can you try setting up a nest for it to take in the evening, so it's already captured in the day?

I do love a bat hunt. We only got one because the cat smacked it out of the air and we got her off it before she could do any damage. They're so cute.

Oh and the one we extracted for my neighbour was actually nestled in a crook of the TV, I guess as the warmest spot in the room?

Aww this takes me back to a catsitting experience many years ago! Love bats except it Seems when they are in the house!

"Catch him, Derry!"

I see a few people got there before me!

He’s still there!! Flying around yesterday evening. More amusing ‘catch him Derry!’ scenes in our house last night 🤣