Gently Getting Rid of a Bat

Preparation

• Wait until late August or early September to perform the exclusion. Waiting until this time allows any bat offspring to develop to the point where they are able to escape on their own. If young bats are not able to escape, they may perish indoors, causing potential health hazards for the homeowner. Identify the escape point the bats are using each evening. If there are multiple escape points, seal all but one with caulk.

Putting up Netting

• Purchase a mesh net (1/4-inch mesh or less) at a home improvement store. Using nails or duct tape, secure the netting above the exterior of the exit point. Only secure the top and sides of the net, leaving the bottom of the net unsecured and hanging roughly one foot below the bottom of the exit point. Be sure to do this during the day when the bats are asleep.

Exclusion

• Observe the exit point during the evening to make sure that the bat or bats have left the home. If you are unsure of how many bats are present in the home, leave the netting up for two or three days. The bats will not be able to re-enter the home via the opening at the bottom of the net.

Closing the Exit Point

• After the bats have left the home, take down the netting and seal up the exit point using caulk. Because bats -- unlike other rodents -- do not gnaw, you can use any kind of caulk.