Batshit & Crazy Trap

November 5, 2019 2:28 AM

Is there a way to trap a bat without actually seeing a bat?

I live in a brownstone 3rd floor walkup with beautiful hardwood. I have seen a bat in my apartment and other neighbors have as well and since then I've kind of been an anxious wreck. I havent seen any bats lately (I know they are stingy with audience requests) but I have a feeling they still lurk in whatever crevices that little idget winged his furry ass from. I work nights so I'm constantly afraid there will be another dive bombing rat faced ghoul attack when I come home. Is there any way to trap a bat who's illegally taken up residence inside my living space just in case I need to show the health department the fear of these uber ugly mongrels colonized in the walls isnt just my imagination? I dont actually want to see or touch one.

posted by The_imp_inimpossible to Science & Nature (8 answers total)

Do not try to trap a bat. They can be vectors for disease, most notably rabies.

Have you contacted your landlord? This requires professional pest removal services and your landlord is responsible for hiring them, same as s/he would be for any other pest.

Get all of your neighbors to notify the landlord. This is not your responsibility and it's dangerous to try and trap a bat. They can get into a building through a very small hole, so it may be that the bat is seeking warmth and shelter due to the changing weather (if you live in a cold climate). It does not necessarily mean you have a bat colony in the walls.

Source: lived in an old house where bats would get in once in a while.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 3:05 AM on November 5, 2019 [2 favorites]

Oh dear.

My lovely fiance once woke up to find a bat in his rental room. He was required to get a rabies vaccination course because of the risk of rabies just from being asleep in the same room with a bat.
posted by amtho at 3:13 AM on November 5, 2019 [4 favorites]

I don't know where you are, but bats are a protected animal in the UK/EU. You need to get a licensed person to trap/move/interfere with them or you're breaking the law.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:24 AM on November 5, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: As others have stated, you need to get your landlord to hire professional pest control to seal up any entry points where the bat could be entering your apartment. If your landlord is resistant, I would work with your neighbors who have also seen the bat to convince him/her to do so.

While you shouldn't try to lure the bat into a trap, if it does make a repeat appearance, you can prepare yourself for what to do by reading the CDC guidelines on capturing a bat. In addition to a large box or bucket suggested by the CDC, you could also use a butterfly net. In fact, I recommend reviewing the entire CDC website section on bats.

If you or your neighbors have any pets, please make sure they are all up to date on their rabies shots.
posted by oiseau at 4:44 AM on November 5, 2019 [5 favorites]

One bat fact - most cannot take flight from the ground; so if you run into a bat exhibiting the "odd behavior" of crawling on the ground it is probably looking for something to climb up on. I'm just saying that in case you see one and think "odd behavior! has to be rabies!".

Source: my child who loves all animals, during the week where I had to catch a mouse, bat, and snake in the house. Separately, they weren't hanging out together.
posted by true at 6:42 AM on November 5, 2019 [5 favorites]

If you’re in a place where rabies is prevalent, you should think about getting a rabies shot. When bats bite, they slightly anesthetize the bite so if you were asleep and one bit you, you might not know. No idea how to get rid of one, though. I always shoo them out when they’re flying around.
posted by Weeping_angel at 9:46 AM on November 5, 2019

Response by poster: Have you contacted your landlord? This requires professional pest removal services and your landlord is responsible for hiring them, same as s/he would be for any other pest.

View earlier post regarding my counterclaim on his illegal eviction. I am still here because I have taken the appropriate steps in the right order. I just have no other question than how to or if it's possible to trap a bat. I would of course release it to the authorities.
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 3:48 PM on November 5, 2019

Response by poster: Thanks for your help. I wont be able to get the landlords help since he already tried evicting me for calling the health department when I was only a week past due, but I will get my shots (Princess too) and try to sleep at night.
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 3:53 PM on November 5, 2019