Excluding Winter Visitors: Bats

This time of year, many wildlife species, including bats, are trying to find a place to escape the colder weather, which may lead them into places where they aren’t welcome, like houses and attics. What should you do if you see a bat in your house?

First, don’t panic! Wear thick gloves and place a container over the perched bat and gently scoop it in. If the weather is well above freezing, the bat can simply be released outside. If temperatures are below freezing and are not predicted to increase above freezing within the next 24hours, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator and see if they are able to take the bat. Rehabilitator contact info: ow.ly/eA8i30pWf14

Once you have removed the bat, find where the bat entered the house and seal the opening. This may take some searching as bats can get into and out of an opening as small as the end of your pinky finger.

Find more detailed information on what to do if you find a bat: batworld.org/what-to-do-if-you-found_a_bat/

Finally, please do what you can to ensure bats are released safely or cared for properly by a professional. Bats have always been challenged with misconceptions about them and they are having a tougher time than ever with habitat loss, development, white-nose syndrome, and more. We need bats! They offer endless pollinator services, insect/pest control, and seed dispersal saving farmers billions of dollars every year.