What to do If You Find a Bat in Your House

Bat removed from a house in CT

It is vital to be aware of the potential risks associated with encountering bats in your house. While not all bats carry diseases, those that do can pose significant threats to humans and their pets. Rabies, in particular, is a cause for concern, as it can lead to severe health complications and even death if left untreated. Consequently, it is crucial to exercise extreme caution when dealing with a bat in your home.

If you discover a bat in your house, here are several crucial steps you should follow to ensure the safety of everyone involved:

Did You Wake up to a Bat In Your House?

  1. Determine if anyone was asleep or potentially in contact with the bat: If a bat is found in your house, it is essential to exercise extreme caution to ensure the safety of all occupants. If someone in your household was sleeping or unable to communicate whether they had contact with the bat, it is imperative not to release the bat. This is because bats can carry diseases, such as rabies, which can pose serious risks to humans and pets alike.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and can be transmitted through the saliva of infected animals. If left untreated, rabies can be fatal. Therefore, if you or anyone in your household has had any contact with the bat, it is essential to capture it and contact your doctor immediately. The doctor will assess the situation and determine if rabies vaccinations are necessary to prevent the spread of the disease.

It is important to note that not all bats carry rabies, but it is still crucial to exercise caution to ensure the safety of all involved. Rabies can take weeks or even months to show symptoms, so it is essential to act quickly to prevent the disease from spreading.

bats in attic
Big brown bat found on an attic staircase

If Unsure Of Rabies Exposure Capture the Bat For Testing

  1. Capture the Bat: Capturing a bat safely requires proper equipment and training. If you are unsure how to capture the bat safely, it is best to contact a professional wildlife removal service. They possess the expertise and equipment necessary to remove the bat from your home safely and humanely.
  2. Isolate the bat in one room: If you were awake and no one had contact with the bat, try to isolate the bat in one room. Close all doors and windows leading to other rooms to prevent the bat from escaping to other parts of the house and causing more problems. Turn off any fans or air conditioning in the room, as the bat may get confused by the air currents, making it harder to capture or self-release to the wild.
  3. Contact a professional wildlife removal service: If you are unsure how to handle the situation or cannot safely capture the bat yourself, contact a professional wildlife removal service, such as RF Wildlife 860-510-6313. They can safely and humanely remove the bat, inspect your home for signs of infestation, and take measures to prevent future occurrences. Most of the time if you find a bat in your house others are living somewhere in the home. Typically, you will have bats in your attic.
  4. Turn off fans, air conditioning, and lights, and open a window or door to the outside: Bats follow air currents and are attracted to light. To help the bat find its way out of your house, turn off fans, air conditioning, and lights in the room where the bat is located. Open a window or door to the outside, allowing the bat to fly away safely.
  5. Consult your veterinarian if you have pets: If you have pets, contact their veterinarian to discuss whether a rabies booster is advised. Rabies can also pose a threat to pets, and taking preventative measures can help protect their health.

In conclusion, if you find a bat in your house, it is crucial to take appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones. Follow the steps outlined above and seek professional help if needed. By doing so, you can protect the well-being of all involved while also safeguarding the welfare of the bat.

Rabies testing pdf. Bats that have direct contact or are found in a room with a person who cannot communicate seeing it or knowing if they may have been bitten (e.g., sleeping person, baby or young child,
person with dementia, or someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs)

Contact RF Wildlife call or text 860-510-6313 for an inspection most of the time if a bat ends up in the living space you have a bat colony living in the house.

Call Now