Discovering a bat inside your home can be a startling experience. These nocturnal creatures often slip in unnoticed through open windows, gaps in attics, or chimneys. While bats are ecologically important (they eat thousands of insects per night!), they can pose health risks if they end up indoors.
If you find a bat in your house, don’t panic. Instead, follow these clear, safe steps to handle the situation calmly and responsibly.
Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
First, take a breath and stay calm. Bats usually don’t want to be inside your living space any more than you want them there. In most cases, the bat entered by accident and is simply trying to find a way out.
Observe the bat’s location. Is it flying in circles around the room? Is it perched on a wall or curtain? Your approach will depend on whether it is actively flying or resting.
Protect Yourself
While rare, bats can carry rabies, a potentially fatal disease. Direct contact should always be avoided. Even if the chance of rabies is low, it’s best to be cautious.
If you plan to handle the bat in any way (for instance, if it’s resting and easy to catch), wear thick gloves like leather work gloves. Never try to pick up a bat with bare hands.
If someone has been bitten or scratched—or if you find a bat in a room with a sleeping person, a child, or someone who can’t say whether they had contact—call your local health department or doctor immediately. In such cases, the bat should be safely captured for rabies testing.
Isolate the Bat
If possible, confine the bat to a single room to make removal easier.
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Close the interior doors to prevent it from moving to other parts of the house.
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Remove pets and children from the area.
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Turn off ceiling fans to avoid injuring the bat.
Create an Exit
The simplest and safest way to remove a bat is to let it fly out on its own.
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Open windows and exterior doors in the room.
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Dim the lights in the room but keep the exit area well-lit. Bats navigate by echolocation but will often head toward the outdoors if given the chance.
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Step outside the room and wait. Many bats will leave on their own within minutes once they detect the exit.
How to Capture a Resting Bat
If the bat lands and stays still (for example on a wall or curtain), you can try to safely capture it.
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Put on thick gloves.
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Take a small box, container, or coffee can.
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Gently place the container over the bat.
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Carefully slide a piece of stiff cardboard between the wall and the container, trapping the bat inside.
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Slowly and carefully carry the container outdoors.
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Release the bat away from people and pets by placing the container on its side and letting the bat crawl or fly out.
If you need the bat for rabies testing (e.g., if it was found in a bedroom overnight or someone might have been bitten), do not release it. Instead, secure it in the container and contact local animal control or public health authorities for instructions.
When to Call a Professional
If you’re uncomfortable removing the bat yourself, or if it’s difficult to catch, call a licensed wildlife control professional. They have experience safely removing bats without harming them or risking your health.
What If There’s More Than One Bat?
If you discover multiple bats in your house—especially in places like attics or chimneys—it may indicate a colony has set up residence. In this case:
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Avoid sealing entry/exit points immediately, as you don’t want to trap bats inside your walls.
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Contact a wildlife control expert who specializes in bat exclusion.
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Professionals will inspect your home, locate entry points, and install one-way devices that let bats leave but not return.
Preventing Future Bat Entries
Once the bat is gone, take steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
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Inspect your home for gaps or cracks larger than ½ inch.
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Check areas around chimneys, rooflines, soffits, vents, and attic louvers.
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Install screens on windows, chimneys, and attic vents.
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Seal all openings after making sure no bats remain inside.
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Maintain your home by checking for new gaps or damage annually.
Health Considerations
Besides the risk of rabies (which is low but serious), bats can leave behind droppings (guano) that may harbor fungal spores causing histoplasmosis. Large accumulations should be cleaned carefully using protective gear, or by hiring professionals.
Final Thoughts
Finding a bat in your home can be unsettling, but it doesn’t have to be a crisis. Most bats are harmless and eager to leave. By staying calm, isolating the animal, and helping it exit safely, you can resolve the situation quickly.
If you have concerns about bites, scratches, or possible rabies exposure, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or local health department. And if bats are repeatedly entering your home, seek professional help to secure your property and ensure both your safety and the bats’ well-being.
Got Bats, Wildlife, or Pests?
If you think that you have a wildlife or pest infestation problem, don't hesitate to reach out to Wildlife x Team International by calling us at 855-WILDLIFE or by visiting www.wildlifexteam.com for more information.