There is a bat in my attic

I haven't seen it, but I've heard it and I can see where it's been pooping. I caught one two years ago and it never came back. This time I'm calling an exterminator. I need a pro to figure out how to keep them out.

They can get in through really tiny cracks. At least it's in the attic and not down in the house - I used to get a couple flying around inside every year, always at the most inopportune times. The worst was one day when I got in the shower, pulled the curtain closed, and there was a bat hanging there looking at me. I screamed like a little girl.

I don't think bats sleep alone.

Pretty sure where there is one, there are many.

And an exterminator may not be able to help you a lot. Most areas have restrictions against killing them.

They are actually beneficial. If you've got bats, they are eating mosquitoes. Lots and lots of them. Like 1000 per hour per bat.

I understand that you don't want them in your house.

But, you are probably going to have to caulk cracks, use netting, and other barriers, and maybe offer them another place to live.

Bat houses are a good thing.

(We have a lot of bats around here)

Shotgun

I have seen a bat with a nearly 12" wingspan fly full speed into a crack less than 1/4"

They fold up instantly in full flight, like a Transformer, or an Autobot, or something. They go into a small crack so fast, they actually look like they are being sucked in by a vacuum.

They are pretty cool critters. Creepy as heck, but cool.

If they get in the house, a tennis racket is the answer.

Their radar can't detect the netting. They are easy to whack.

Local cops actually carry tennis rackets around in their trunks for bat-whacking.

Definitely put up some bat houses, they need to be pretty high up. Also, if you can locate where they are coming in, you might be able to trap them out. Our bats are awesome and we need all the help we can get with mosquitoes.

SVreX wrote: If they get in the house, a tennis racket is the answer.

A fishnet works better - instead of just whacking them, you can catch them, bring them outside and release them.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Shotgun

I was thinking more like Pellet Gun, but I like where you're coming from with this, Iggy.

I am an exterminator and it is true we can not kill them, but we can use exclusion techniques such as one way flaps and whatnot so they get out and can't get back in. The only problem is now is when they have had their young so at least in my area we would wait until July or so as to not trap the young inside to die on their own.

stuart in mn wrote:

SVreX wrote: If they get in the house, a tennis racket is the answer.

A fishnet works better - instead of just whacking them, you can catch them, bring them outside and release them.

No, no, no. You missed the point- they are FUN to whack!

Sorry. Bat in my kid's room gets whacked. No catch and release for Nursery offenders.

I've actually removed a bunch of bats from a bunch of houses. The fire department used to get the call when someone had one in their house, but we don't do that anymore. Standard practice was to give it a shot with a CO2 extinguisher. They freeze and drop to the ground for about 30 seconds. Then we'd just grab them and let them go outside. It was up to the homeowner to keep them out at that point.

A part of me wishes you said belfry.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

I'm thinking about adding a belfry and a moat.

Movin in with Quasi?

He's just misunderstood.

I had about 40 of them E36 M3ting in a rental house attic one time. Waited until well after dark then used great stuff to temporarily plug the louver screen they used for access. It worked and they apparently moved on.

Except the one that made it into my bedroom.. ..

Nothing like hearing a bat in your room at 3:15am

Fire. Or shotgun. Or any other means to make it go away.

They're fun to watch when I'm sitting outside and they're zipping around, and I would happily put up a bathouse if I could (rental), but inside my house is another story. Nope, nope, nope.

Bats are awesome!

And GPS beat me to the belfry comment darn it.

I've caught a couple in my houses over the years. I think I used a bath towel and released them outside.

I should set up some bat houses and see if I can attract a few to keep the Mosquitos down.

A cat. Had one in my old house, in my office & I keep seeing this shadow. Turn around and see him flying down the hall right at me. Keeps making loops up and down the hall. I go to get a bedsheet to try and snag him, he figures out the steps to go downstairs. I hear the ex-swmbo yelling at my cat "Onyx! Onyx, no. Onyx....ooooohhhh."

Apparently he made a super awesome leap in the air and snagged him mid-flight. I'll bet it was impressive.

I had one in my toilet last week. That was a wake up call.

Unzip to take a morning leak, and there it was. swimming laps.

Yes, I took pics and then used a towel for it to grab onto and let out the window.

I wish I had bats at my house! Catch it, box it up and ship it to me. Need some to kill the skeeters.

Check the screens on any vents in the attic - they often seem to get in through ripped or not fully stapled ones.

Bats suck. In our county, they are rabies carriers, and if you are woken up at night by one, you should get rabies shots. Did that. While you don't get the big shot in the abdomen, the 6 shots in different major muscles to start with stings pretty bad.

We had a specialist come in, and get rid of them- he started by sealing it all up except for a one way door. Two weeks later, he sealed it up.

I'm sure they are in neighbor houses now.