Bats in My Belfry - EEK

[NoNo]

Almost exactly a year ago I had a bat in my house. No idea how it got in. I think I posted the story on here, but since I couldn't find where he was hiding, I just stayed at my parents until he died Sent him to the health department for testing, and got the results back the morning we were leaving for Italy. I don't care how harmless or beneficial they're supposed to be (goes for spiers, too), they don't belong in my house and if they enter that space, they'll pay with their lives!

[Skierchickie]

Almost exactly a year ago I had a bat in my house. No idea how it got in. I think I posted the story on here, but since I couldn't find where he was hiding, I just stayed at my parents until he died Sent him to the health department for testing, and got the results back the morning we were leaving for Italy. I don't care how harmless or beneficial they're supposed to be (goes for spiers, too), they don't belong in my house and if they enter that space, they'll pay with their lives!

How did you know he'd died, or where to find him?? Of course, I think in terms of my log house, with its infinite crevices & hiding places. We had one a couple of weeks ago that DH lost track of - this was probably that one. I figure if they can get in, there is a chance they'll find their way out again. And in again.

Reesha - awesome story! I was reaching for a towel out of the cupboard for that very purpose when he swooped off the bathroom window again. I do wonder if they might end up under the towel, hanging from my face.

[FlyingScot]

I am FlyingScot Queen of the bat catchers. We've had six so far. They scare the you know what out of me. They scare my brother even more. So much for manliness. I have perfected bat catching to near professional level. If any of you want to know how I do it just let me know.

ps. no bats die in the process.

[zoom-zoom]

I am FlyingScot Queen of the bat catchers. We've had six so far. They scare the you know what out of me. They scare my brother even more. So much for manliness. I have perfected bat catching to near professional level. If any of you want to know how I do it just let me know.

ps. no bats die in the process.

We have had 5-6 in our house in the last 3-4 years. Our biggest fear is that one of our 4 cats will mortally wound them. We have 7 foot ceilings in much or our house and our youngest cat appears to have a 5 foot vertical leap (he's like Michael Jordan). He's jumped and smacked one out of the air, before.

Our method is to corral the cats into one room, then open the front door. I hold up a blanket and try to drive the bat towards the open door. Sometimes the bat will land somewhere and DH has been able to grab the little bugger with gloves on and/or capture it in a mesh delicates bag and return him to the outdoors. We really need to build some bat houses, too. We have an old house that the little guys have an easy time finding entry to.

[malkin]

I am FlyingScot Queen of the bat catchers. We've had six so far. They scare the you know what out of me. They scare my brother even more. So much for manliness. I have perfected bat catching to near professional level. If any of you want to know how I do it just let me know.

ps. no bats die in the process.

Oh!
Do tell! Do tell!

I had a possum in my closet once, but I just called animal control to come get him.

[NoNo]

How did you know he'd died, or where to find him??

When my landlord went to check things out, he found him on the kitchen floor. Apparently he'd been hiding in the plant on my fridge Several days without food or water had done him in.

[Skierchickie]

When my landlord went to check things out, he found him on the kitchen floor. Apparently he'd been hiding in the plant on my fridge Several days without food or water had done him in.

Ahhh. I have heard that they need to eat a lot, and will die quickly if they can't get any insects.

I also have read that their bones are extremely fragile, and that if you pick one up it will probably die of the injuries. And here I am, afraid of them.

I really want to know the FlyingScot method! We generally get 2 or 3 every summer. Did I say summer? DH evicted one into an early-season snowstorm one time.

[bmccasland]

Bat's bones are light, but unless you're heavy handed, picking it up won't break it's bones. I've mist netted and ankle tagged bats back in my college days. I think they're actually kind of cute. Mice with wings. Fruit eating bats are called "Flying Foxes" because their faces look rather fox like.

I've also stuffed a couple of bats for display purposes, and again, didn't break any bones. I was surprised that the bats could echo-locate the top of the mist net, and avoid it. But a slight breeze would set the net to moving, then the bats would have trouble and get caught.

But if a bat is slow enough to be caught by hand, then it's probably sick, so you should be wearing leather gloves. Like most mammals, they carry diseases (we do too).

FWIW - the two worst mammalian species to be bitten by are:

• humans - most amount of bacteria in our mouths, leads to very nastily infected wounds

• cats - those sharp teeth leave puncture wounds, which don't bleed much and thus get infected.

Bats eat lots and lots of mosquitos, and other bugs. So they're a good thing. That said.... don't think I'd want one in my house either.

[Jolt]

We had a bat in our back hall once...I think it was sick or injured b/c it was on the floor and not flying around. I ended up just picking it up with a towel and putting it outside. I can imagine if it's flying around it's a little harder to get out!

[OakLeaf]

Once when I was in college there was a bat sleeping on the door jamb of my club's offices. I tried to brush it off and the poor thing fell onto its head on the floor. I set it on the window ledge and it was gone an hour later ... hope it was okay and just flew away.

I love bats. I love anything that eats mosquitoes, but bats are just cool.