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	Bats in Your House

What do you do if you have a bat in your house?

During the beginning of August, baby bats are just learning to fly and because their direction-finding isn't as keen as it will become, they sometimes wind up in the living quarters of your house. If this happens, first of all, don't panic. Bats are basically harmless and they do not really want to be in your house. Contrary to popular belief, they will not fly at you and try to get in your hair.

Most of the time, if you open outside doors and windows and turn out the lights, the bat will fly out. If it has landed, you can put something over the bat (like a tennis racket or a bucket), slide a piece of cardboard underneath and then transport the bat outside and put it down. As soon as it gets its bearings, it will fly away. Having learned its lesson, it will probably not make that navigational mistake again.

Bats are extremely beneficial mammals, eating up to three times their body weight in insects each night. They are one of the few flying nighttime predators of mosquitoes and other insects. (One bat can eat 4,000 mosquitoes in one night!) However, as with any wild animal, common sense and caution should dictate your handling of them. Bats do occasionally carry rabies and sick or injured bats should not be handled. If you must handle a bat that has gotten into your house, try the method suggested above, or use disposable rubber gloves.

If bats are living in your house and you find you cannot live with them, there are several individuals who advertise humane bat eradication. We would be happy to provide their phone numbers, if you call during regular business hours on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.