The Bat Inside the House Conundrum
Every year at this time, one or two come a-flyin' around inside the house. I used to be scared. I'd run next door and beg the neighbor to get the thing out. He would kill it and bury it for me. My husband was just as afraid as I was, he'd swat it down with a broom, pound it to death and throw it out the window. I got sick of the men killing the poor things, though, and started taking care of the problem myself.
The easiest way I've found to remove a bat is to wait until it lands. Like any mammal, it can't keep moving forever. It'll land on a wall up near the ceiling. I take a bath towel, use a chair or step ladder, and slowly move up to where the bat is hanging. I drape the towel over my hand, grab the bat, and wrap in up in the towel.
Sure it looks huge when it's flapping around, but when you finally get a-hold of it and take a good look, it's just a frail, trembling, terrified little thing. Like a butterfly. A butterfly with TEETH. I've heard people refer to them as flying mice. Nooo, mice only have two gnawing teeth in front. Our common brown bats here in PA have a set of canine teeth, with quarter inch fangs, and when caught, they bare 'em like dogs do. I don't look at them. I just take the towel outside, unfold it and the bat flies away. Not difficult at all.
No these aren't vampire bats, yes there are vampire bats, but these bats are the kind that catch and eat bugs. No need to pound them to death with a broom or shovel or whatnot, I remember my dad trying to swat one with a record album cover. The bat got so sick of watching him waving The James Gang around, it flew out the window on its own.
The easiest way I've found to remove a bat is to wait until it lands. Like any mammal, it can't keep moving forever. It'll land on a wall up near the ceiling. I take a bath towel, use a chair or step ladder, and slowly move up to where the bat is hanging. I drape the towel over my hand, grab the bat, and wrap in up in the towel.
Sure it looks huge when it's flapping around, but when you finally get a-hold of it and take a good look, it's just a frail, trembling, terrified little thing. Like a butterfly. A butterfly with TEETH. I've heard people refer to them as flying mice. Nooo, mice only have two gnawing teeth in front. Our common brown bats here in PA have a set of canine teeth, with quarter inch fangs, and when caught, they bare 'em like dogs do. I don't look at them. I just take the towel outside, unfold it and the bat flies away. Not difficult at all.
No these aren't vampire bats, yes there are vampire bats, but these bats are the kind that catch and eat bugs. No need to pound them to death with a broom or shovel or whatnot, I remember my dad trying to swat one with a record album cover. The bat got so sick of watching him waving The James Gang around, it flew out the window on its own.
Replies
Brave Lady! I just found a dead one in the woodstove, was wondering what that smell was for a week. 1st one in 5 years. Glad your releasing them. I have to get someone to put a screen over the chimney.
I applaud your efforts to rescue the poor frightened creature. I\'m sure I wouldn\'t be as brave. We always try catching them and letting them go...we\'ve never had to kill one yet.
When I lived at home my mom and dad had stoves to heat the house. Every once in a while a bat would fly down the chimney. My dad had good ears, he could hear it in there. I never could. He\'d yell, \" Ah there\'s a G D BAT in the chimney again!\" I\'d say, What? No. He\'d put on a pair of gloves take the chimney apart, and then bring it over, stick it in my face and say, SEE? THERE! His people were from Russia, so he\'d yell when he\'d talk. The bat would have its teeth sunk into his glove. Cute as heck. Orsa so glad your people believe in catch and release too.
You go girl. I too hate to kill any living thing, I just don\'t want them in my house!! I have had mice, feral cats, a rat and snakes in my house. Outside, an opposum and a bat in my pool. And I live in town. Crazy Hugs to you, Michele
Yep the critters don\'t care where you live. They are there. We have opossums too and I\'ve found a snake and a toad in my cellar. I have far too many cats, so rats and mice are scarce. But it doesn\'t stop them from going out and bringing them home from elsewhere. Ugh!. Thanks Michele.
you are brave indeed! your dad sounds like quite the man, your last sentence gave me a chuckle, sounds like someing my dad would say. good for you for doing what you do, luckily where I live I don\'t have any of those problems, I freak out over a spider!!
You know, I can handle a snake no problem, but a spider, I need a long spoon and a big jar. Same for centipedes.
ha ha