get rid of batsBats are very beneficial to the environment around us, eating thousands of the insects that would normally bother humans. This, of course, doesn’t mean they are welcomed house guests, though. Dealing with bats can be a difficult proposition if you’ve discovered them sharing your home with you.

In many places, bats are protected by law, so if you are having a problem with bats it’s important to check and learn exactly what the laws are regarding what you can do to remove them in the area where you live. For example, in the UK, all bats are protected and it is illegal to try to move or disrupt them unless you are a trained specialist.

Getting Bats Out of a Building

Bats are most often found in attics or roof area crawl spaces when they are discovered inside a building. Removing them from such spaces takes vigilance and patience.

The first step is to try to locate where the bats are entering and exiting the building. You may be able to get an idea simply standing outside around sunset and watching. Bats will usually begin their activity around dusk and come back to sleep around dawn. You might be able to spot them going out for the night by just observing the area around your roof for a few evenings.

Once you know where they seem to be nesting, you’ll need to get closer and find the opening they are moving

Bat dropping

                       Bat dropping

through. It should be easy to spot, as the area will usually be stained or even show signs of bat droppings. This, obviously, has to be closed off. The idea here is to create a one-way door on the entry point and allow the bats to leave on their own, making it impossible for them to come back in. You should be able to find the one-way devices at most hardware or home improvement stores.

If you spot more than one entry point leading to the same space, you’ll want to seal off all openings except for one. That’s where you’ll place your one-way device. If there are multiple openings leading to different spaces, you’ll need to place a one-way device on each space.

At this point, it is just a matter of patience and waiting. You simply want to wait for all the bats that are inside to leave. If everything has been done properly, they won’t be able to get back inside and will look for shelter somewhere else. Once all of your guests have gone, you can remove your one-way device and properly seal any entry points that the bats were using.

Repelling Bats Outside

Here are a few tips you can use to repel bats that might be nesting a little bit closer to your home than you would like. These should all be carried out during the day when the bats are not around. Don’t disturb a nest or any other area if bats are present.

  • Moth Balls – Place a handful of mothballs in the center of a piece of cheesecloth cut into a five or six-inch square. Fold and secure the cheesecloth into a sack with the moth balls inside. Hang these sacks from tree branches or roof overhangs where you’ve seen bats and the smell will discourage them from hanging around.
  • Pet Repellent – Pet repellent sprays used to help train cats and dogs to stay away from furniture or certain areas can work well with bats too. Just spray it on areas where you’ve seen bats and it should discourage them from returning.
  • Mylar or Tin Foil – You can cut strips of mylar from a balloon or use tin foil for a similar effect. Hang the strips in areas where you’ve seen bats so that they are free to move with the wind.
  • Lights – Bats prefer dark areas. If they are too close to your home, a motion sensitive light can make an effective repellent. Once the light has come on a few times, bats will start to avoid the area.

How to Get Rid of Bats (VIDEO)

 

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