You never worry about it until it happens: A bat somehow finds its way inside your home and is desperately trying to get out. Believe it or not, this can be a problem for homeowners in your community, and how you approach it depends on the scope of the bat concern. Are you talking about one random bat, or has a colony set up housekeeping? While many people believe seeing a bat in their living area is a random occurrence, it usually indicates a larger issue. Bats are colonial creatures and naturally roost in groups. However, if this is a one-off invasion, there are things you can do to safely deal with the situation at hand.

A Single Bat Is not a Catastrophe

One bat does not always make an infestation, and it isn’t impossible to coax the poor thing out of your home on your own. Chances are good it entered your home through an open door or window, or perhaps it found its way down an uncovered chimney. While bats rely on echolocation to find their food, even they can misread their signals and get off-track. When that happens, the most important thing you can do is stay calm. That bat is more frightened of you than you are of it. 

Find some protective gear, especially gloves, in case you do accidentally touch the bat. Best case scenario, it leaves quietly in the same way it entered, but it still is a good idea to be prepared. You should remove any pets and children from the room, then close the interior doors so that the bat is contained in the area. It’s a lot easier to get a bat to leave if it isn’t flying all over your home. Next, open any exterior doors or windows. You can dim the lights to keep it calm and less stimulated.

This next part is important: sit and wait. It’s best to let the bat leave on its own, and in time, it should figure it out and go. You should never try to catch it because you could injure it or, worse yet, you could frighten the animal and end up getting bitten. If this plan isn’t effective or practical, then call in a professional; our Skedaddle Milwaukee team can humanely remove the bat without endangering it, and more importantly, they will be able to check if this is a larger issue than a single bat.

The Bigger Issue of Infestation

What if that one bat you see is actually part of a much larger problem? Bats may come into your home during the baby season to find a safe place to nest and birth their young. Houses make an ideal location, especially in the eaves, attics, roofs, and even crawl spaces. If you suspect you have a roost, you can usually tell by the bat droppings, which look much like rodent droppings, only bigger. They can make a big mess, and another clue may be that there are urine stains on walls. 

Removing a colony of bats does take a special touch and is best left to the professionals. A bat removal company in Milwaukee can identify where the bats are nesting and humanely remove them, releasing them back into the wild. They can also take care of the mess the bats left behind by cleaning the droppings and any other evidence. Finally, and most importantly, they will prevent it from happening again by sealing off any entry points in your home. Bats can fit through a space as small as a half-inch, and it takes a keen eye to identify and properly seal those areas.

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control technicians have the expertise to handle your unexpected bat visitors as well as any other animals in your home. Visit our website or contact us to learn more about our services in your area.