Many of us know what a bat looks like and how dangerous they can be around our homes, but few are forced to face one of these creatures face to face. The fact is that they are a lot more common in some areas of the country than in others, and some species of bats love to make a home out of your house.
This is not true of the vast majority of bats who prefer larger spaces, like a barn, because they live in large colonies. Your attic does not provide that kind of space, so you will not find large groups of bats making a home in the upper part of your home.
However, this is not true of every kind of bat, and you will find that there are plenty of bats that will find your attic to be the perfect spot to make a home for him or herself. In fact, you may even find a group of a few dozen that would see your attic as the perfect location to set up residence.
What to Do If You Find a Bat?
There may be times that you may find that a bat is living in your home. Because these creatures are known to carry a large number of parasites and diseases you will want to do all you can to get rid of them as quickly as possible. The question is how to do that?
The simplest way to get rid of them is by use of a one-way exclusion funnel. These devices are quite simple. You attach the funnel to the outside of your home. As it gets dark outside, the bat or bats will fly out through the funnel into the night to begin to forage for food. They are able to get out but they cannot get back in.
Once you know that all of your bats are gone, you can take down the funnel and seal any holes that are in your property. This will keep them from getting back in permanently. The perfect solution.
You Can’t Do This
Some want to take a more proactive path because they don’t want to simply wait for the bat to leave. They want it out now!
To resolve this issue they decide to try to trap the bat, then take it some other place and get rid of it. They think that this is a great idea because it seems humane and no one would get hurt.
Yes, this would be a very humane thing to do. However, it is most likely illegal as well. The thing to understand is that most states protect the bat from being killed or trapped. This means that you cannot poison, stab, or shoot a bat. It also means that it is quite illegal for you to trap one as well. Fines in many states can be quite hefty for disobeying the law in this way.
You may look at this and think that it makes no sense to make this unlawful. Why would the government protect bats in this way? The answer is quite simple. Bats are becoming threatened more and more because they are often seen as not useful to the ecosystem, and because they carry these pathogens, many think that getting rid of them is the safe thing to do.
However, they are decreasing in numbers, and in many areas around the country they are on the threatened list. This means that if you trap them you are facing some pretty hefty fines. No one wants to take that risk, so contact your local animal control and they can assist you in this matter. NEED LOCAL HELP? We have wildlife removal professionals servicing 95% of the USA. Click here to hire a local bat removal expert in your home town. Updated 2018. It's best to be educated on the subject, so browse this site and especially read the bats in the attic home page, or email me if you have any more questions about Is it legal for me to trap a bat?
Wildlife Education - Information and Advice for the Safe Removal of Bats from Attics
This is not true of the vast majority of bats who prefer larger spaces, like a barn, because they live in large colonies. Your attic does not provide that kind of space, so you will not find large groups of bats making a home in the upper part of your home.
However, this is not true of every kind of bat, and you will find that there are plenty of bats that will find your attic to be the perfect spot to make a home for him or herself. In fact, you may even find a group of a few dozen that would see your attic as the perfect location to set up residence.
What to Do If You Find a Bat?
There may be times that you may find that a bat is living in your home. Because these creatures are known to carry a large number of parasites and diseases you will want to do all you can to get rid of them as quickly as possible. The question is how to do that?
The simplest way to get rid of them is by use of a one-way exclusion funnel. These devices are quite simple. You attach the funnel to the outside of your home. As it gets dark outside, the bat or bats will fly out through the funnel into the night to begin to forage for food. They are able to get out but they cannot get back in.
Once you know that all of your bats are gone, you can take down the funnel and seal any holes that are in your property. This will keep them from getting back in permanently. The perfect solution.
You Can’t Do This
Some want to take a more proactive path because they don’t want to simply wait for the bat to leave. They want it out now!
To resolve this issue they decide to try to trap the bat, then take it some other place and get rid of it. They think that this is a great idea because it seems humane and no one would get hurt.
Yes, this would be a very humane thing to do. However, it is most likely illegal as well. The thing to understand is that most states protect the bat from being killed or trapped. This means that you cannot poison, stab, or shoot a bat. It also means that it is quite illegal for you to trap one as well. Fines in many states can be quite hefty for disobeying the law in this way.
You may look at this and think that it makes no sense to make this unlawful. Why would the government protect bats in this way? The answer is quite simple. Bats are becoming threatened more and more because they are often seen as not useful to the ecosystem, and because they carry these pathogens, many think that getting rid of them is the safe thing to do.
However, they are decreasing in numbers, and in many areas around the country they are on the threatened list. This means that if you trap them you are facing some pretty hefty fines. No one wants to take that risk, so contact your local animal control and they can assist you in this matter. NEED LOCAL HELP? We have wildlife removal professionals servicing 95% of the USA. Click here to hire a local bat removal expert in your home town. Updated 2018. It's best to be educated on the subject, so browse this site and especially read the bats in the attic home page, or email me if you have any more questions about Is it legal for me to trap a bat?