- 1). Wear thick work gloves, long sleeves and long pants when searching for or approaching a bat. Bats have short teeth and cannot bite through heavy-duty work gloves. Have family members and guests, as well as pets, leave the room occupied by the bat. Bats typically set up homes in attics, which have more cracks and openings than other rooms in the house.
- 2). Look for bat droppings near any area you suspect is inhabited by a bat. Bat droppings are dry and black and the size of a grain of rice. Once you verify the presence of bats in your home, you must install one-way exits to allow bats to escape without returning.
- 3). Remove all water sources in the bat-infested area. If you have a flying insect infestation in your home, use a natural, nonchemical insect-control product such as diatomaceous earth to eliminate these food sources. The absence of food and water will force bats to leave to find these necessities elsewhere.
- 4). Install screens in your windows. To prevent additional bats from getting into your house, place 1/4-inch wire mesh over openings. Do this at night, when bats should be out hunting. If you suspect bats remain inside, install a one-way exit to allow bats to escape without reentering. To do this, attach a 1/4-inch wire mesh cage around openings in your home, using staples. The cage should extend several inches below the opening and must be sealed on all sides except the bottom. This method should safely eliminate bats from the home within 24 hours. If you notice a stray, single bat resting on the wall, use the method outlined below to remove it.
- 5). Close all doors leading from the room occupied by the bat to other parts of the house. Open exterior windows and doors. If your interior doors have a gap at the bottom, wedge a towel into the gap to prevent the bat from crawling underneath. If the bat does not fly out on its own, attempt to catch it.
- 6). Approach the bat calmly and quietly, and place an empty coffee can over its body. Slide a piece of cardboard under the coffee can. Go to an open window or door and release the bat outside. Do not touch the bat. Close all exterior windows and doors once the bat is released.
- 7). Call your local animal control if the bat problem persists after 24 hours.
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