topic Re: How to humanely get rid of bats? in Home

How to humanely get rid of bats?

depglass — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 19:22:19 GMT

We generally have one bat in the space between the house roof and the deck roof. But after years of letting this one go undisturbed, he has invited all his friends to his crash pad. I just went out on the deck after two weeks of hot weather when we didn't use it. I counted a good 20 bats in that crevice, and there are droppings all over the place. Reading online I see that the only deterrent they recommend consistently is mothballs. Since I would need a ladder to get the mothballs up there, and I don't do ladders, I'm hoping someone can recommend a spray that will get them packing but not kill them.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

brewhaha — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 19:39:27 GMT

You need to identify their entry point. At dusk, when they go out to eat, place a barricade (netting) over the entry point area.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

Harpa — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 19:54:52 GMT

I know you don't want the bat droppings, but they do eat the flying insects.

I had trouble earlier in the season with bats devouring my hummingbird nectar! I had to pull the hum feeder in every night until I purchased a new feeder. I still want the bats! But I have no idea where they roost. Probably in our belfry, because it does get batty around here at times!

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

SparklesMcGee — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 20:02:21 GMT

My family and I just went through this horrible bat experience. I say "Horrible" because what we thought was a small bat issue: seeing a few here and there in the eaves of our house, turned into a maternal nest colony that needed professional evacuation! If we had had an expert come evaluate the situation the first time we saw a single bat on our house, we would have saved $$$$! I really recommend having a professional company come and evaluate the issue you are having at your house. Hopefully, it will be a quick fix. I especially recommend a company coming to take care of the matter because bats are a protected species, carry disease, and usually guarantee their work to prevent re-colonization.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

Azcowgirl — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 20:02:22 GMT

We've had someone come out three times to seal up any possible entry points, but they still manage to squeeze in somewhere.... At the ridge beam log at the high point of the roof. They are EXTREMELY persistent. They flatten themselves out so they can get into the tiniest cracks. I still have a few bats, after having professionals come out. ):

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

Frankie_Dee — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 21:50:51 GMT

Also, just a reminder to everyone, NEVER pick up or "play" with a bat on the ground. If they are out during daylight and/or "grounded," then they are sick. That usually means rabies. I agree that a professional should be called in if you have more than a couple of bats.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

insomniac — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:22:06 GMT

I used to live in a house that had at least one bat per year. We were not humane: we killed them (releasing them does no good--they just return). I spent several thousand dollars trying to get rid of them. However, nothing worked.

So finally I moved.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

RedTop — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:25:26 GMT

Undiluted ammonia sprayed where they roost will deter them from that spot. You have to reapply often to keep the odor strong so the bats don't come back.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

ChynnaBlue — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:27:44 GMT

Hire a professional. Look in your area and there should be people who specialize in removing bats without killing them. Hire someone who has the experience to tell you how to prevent them from coming back. You may be able to block the area off with mesh or do something else to block them from getting back on.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

GSPgirl — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:29:23 GMT

We had them last year and you have to hire a professional and have them removed. They do it humanely. Good luck.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

Mominohio — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 23:10:15 GMT

Nothing terrifies my like bats. We live in the country, with lots of woods and water, so lots of bugs, therefor lots of bats. I've been afraid of them since childhood. I can handle the spiders, the snakes, and the rest of the wildlife that presents itself, but not these.

Please get professional help to rid yourself of them, and also to seal up the areas they may be getting in. Of all of natures creatures, I think these are the ones not to mess with.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

little miss sunshine — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 00:25:31 GMT

My daughter in NC just had the same problem. Bats are a protected specie and are really good for the environment. She called the enviromental agency and they sent out a batman to solve the problem. First, he put a screen flap over the opening where the bats would go out. Once they decided to leave (and they did) they couldn't get back in. He also vacuumed up all the bat guana. No charge. Problem solved (hopefully). He will come back and check periodically.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

songbird — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 00:51:36 GMT

I don't mind bats. They are good creatures. Without them, the world would be overrun with insects. I don't have a bat problem, but once several years ago, one flew in my house. It was flying around, scared and flapping it's wings. I managed to get the door open and it finally few out.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

champagnepoodle — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 00:53:35 GMT

Get rid of these things! UGG! Call Bat control!

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

ive been framed — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 15:11:07 GMT

On 8/28/2014 little miss sunshine said:
My daughter in NC just had the same problem. Bats are a protected specie and are really good for the environment. She called the enviromental agency and they sent out a batman to solve the problem. First, he put a screen flap over the opening where the bats would go out. Once they decided to leave (and they did) they couldn't get back in. He also vacuumed up all the bat guana. No charge. Problem solved (hopefully). He will come back and check periodically.

We had a pest control guy do this too. After our addition was built we were invaded by bats several times over the summer. We got so used to them that we weren't freaked out, just closed all windows and blinds opened the front door wide, turned on the porch light and sat on the porch to watch carefully for them to fly out (they are silent and quick). Having cats helped tremendously. They can locate a bat instantly (but they never bothered them, just stared at the place they were like a hunting dog!). This was how I found there was one in our closet. YIKES!

Anyway, the pest control guy checked all over the exterior of the house and put in a few one way 'doors'. Sealed up other accesses (bats can squeeze thru a 1/2 inch space) and we haven't seen a bat since.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

jlkz — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 16:20:13 GMT

Had a MAJOR issue with bats at a rental property located near a reservoir and fruit orchard. As poster SparklesMcGee noted, it is extremely expensive $$$$$ to rid a place of bats. They are a protected species and can carry rabies. We didn't know we had a problem for a long time. The cleanup was extensive: droppings in the attic area was over a foot deep. The closing of all access points was also extensive and required further checks to make certain they were indeed gone. It was not covered by insurance. Don't know where they moved to ! ! !

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

Mindy D — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 22:44:16 GMT

Since I am not a big fan of rabies, I would call a professional service, immediately. Too dangerous for a do-it-yourself project. There are bat removal services. Some are humane. Call now. Only three known cases in history of survival from rabies.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

Mindy D — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 22:45:35 GMT

make sure all your pets are vaccinated, updated.

Re: How to humanely get rid of bats?

Mindy D — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 23:16:10 GMT

Bats are not bad, but they carry serious disease. You should alert neighbors to ensure all their pets are vaccinated. Cats get rabies from bats. Some people are not aware of this. They need updated vaccinations.