There’s a Bat in My House — How Do I Get It Out Safely?
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or emergency assistance. If you are currently dealing with a bat in your living space, we recommend contacting a wildlife professional or your local health department for immediate help.
Discovering a bat inside your home can be frightening, but quick, calm action will protect both you and the bat. Follow these simple steps to encourage the bat’s safe exit, minimize health risks, and secure your home against future intrusions. When in doubt, always seek professional assistance.
Step-by-Step Guide
Stay Calm and Contain the Bat
Close doors to confine the bat to one room, then place a towel or rolled-up cloth at the door’s base to prevent it from flying into other areas.Open Exit Points
Open windows and exterior doors in the room. Bats instinctively fly toward open spaces to escape perceived threats.Avoid Direct Contact
Never handle a bat with your bare hands—bats can carry rabies and other pathogens. Keep pets and children clear of the room.Gently Guide the Bat Out (Optional)
If you feel confident, wear thick gloves, then softly trap the bat against a nearby wall with a broom and cover it with a light box or container. Slide a piece of stiff cardboard underneath to create a makeshift lid, and release it at dusk.Call Local Animal Control
If you’re unsure how to proceed or the bat won’t leave, contact your local animal control agency for a safe, humane rescue.Ventilate and Assess
After the bat exits, air out the room. If any guano was disturbed, avoid stirring dust; guano can contain Histoplasma spores linked to histoplasmosis.Schedule Professional Bat Exclusion
One bat indoors often signals a colony in the home, walls, attic, or eaves. Hire a licensed bat removal service to inspect your home, install one-way exclusion devices, and seal all entry points.
Why Bats End Up Inside
Chasing Insects: Outdoor lights attract bugs—and bugs attract bats—sometimes into open windows or vents.
Seeking Shelter: Harsh weather or predators can drive bats to seek temporary refuge in attics, chimneys, or inside rooms.
Living Space: Some bats may be living in parts of your home already. Bats are curios, and sometimes as they explore they find themselves inside the home and don’t know how to get out.
Illness: When bats are sickly, they often behave irradically and act in a way that they would not normally do so. During this time, they often get confused which sometimes translates to them flying indoors though open spaces such as windows with no screens or exterior doors as they open and close.
Professional Exclusion: The Long-Term Solution
Thorough Inspection: Experts identify even pencil-width gaps used by bats to enter your attic or walls.
One-Way Devices: Exclusion tubes let bats exit but block re-entry—humane and effective.
Permanent Sealing: After all bats leave, professionals seal openings and repair damage to prevent future infestations.