A bat in the apartment is an unexpected guest that can give you quite a scare, especially if it flies around the room, hides behind furniture or suddenly appears from behind a curtain.
But there is no need to panic. Bats do not look for encounters with people and end up in homes by accident. Such situations happen most often in late summer and autumn, when the animals are actively moving around in search of new shelters.
The main thing: do not try to chase away or hit the bat. It needs to be carefully caught without injuring it, and you should ask for advice on what to do next.
What should you do if a bat is flying around the room?
First of all, stay calm. The bat is not trying to attack you — it is looking for a safe place to stop.
- Isolate the room. Take children and pets out and close the door so the bat does not move around the whole apartment.
- Do not try to hit the bat. Do not use brooms, towels or other objects. Its wings are very fragile, so even a slight blow can cause an injury.
- Wait until it lands. Bats may stop on curtains, walls, furniture or in cozy corners of the room.
- Contact Home of Rescued Animals. If you are afraid to catch the bat yourself, our team can come to the rescue. If you are ready to help on your own, we will tell you how to do it safely.
Do not leave the bat unattended for a long time. It may hide behind furniture, in the folds of curtains or in other hard-to-reach places, from where it will be harder to get it out.
How do you catch a bat safely?
If the bat has already landed and you are ready to take it yourself, follow a few simple rules.
1. Put on thick gloves.
Never pick up a bat with bare hands. Even a small animal may bite in self-defense.
2. Prepare a box.
Take a small cardboard box with ventilation holes and a secure lid. Put a piece of soft fabric without loops on the bottom, in which its claws could get tangled.
3. Carefully pick up the bat.
When it is sitting on an accessible surface, gently take it with your hands in thick gloves. Do not squeeze its body, pull on its wings or try to spread them.
If it is awkward to take the animal by hand, you can cover it with the box and carefully slide a piece of stiff cardboard under it.
4. Put the bat in a safe place.
Close the box and leave it in a quiet room, away from children, pets, direct sunlight and heaters.
5. Contact our center.
Tell us where and in what circumstances you found the bat. We will help you decide what to do next.
Do not try to feed, give water to or treat the bat yourself. Also do not release it without advice on the animal's condition and on safe release conditions.
What should you do if the bat hid in the apartment?
Bats can hide in very narrow crevices. If you saw the animal in the room but it suddenly disappeared, this does not mean it has left the room.
First of all, check the folds of the curtains and the space behind pictures, furniture, wardrobes and other cozy places. Examine them carefully so as not to accidentally crush or injure the animal.
Close the room door and do not let pets inside. If you cannot find the bat, contact our center.
Why do bats fly into apartments?
In late summer and autumn bats actively move between their summer shelters and hibernation sites. This period is especially noticeable in August and September.
During such movements animals may accidentally end up in apartments, offices, stairwells and other rooms through open windows.
This is a dangerous situation for a bat: it may become disoriented, get injured or stay in an enclosed room for a long time without access to food and water.
So during the migration season, do not leave windows open overnight without mosquito nets.
Also check that the nets fit tightly against the window frames, and do not forget about windows in stairwells and entrance halls. These are simple measures that will help avoid bats accidentally getting into buildings.
Where to ask for help?
If a bat has flown into your apartment, contact our center.
Our team goes out to rescue animals. If you are afraid to catch the bat yourself, we will help. And if you have already carefully put it in a box, we will tell you what to do next.
If possible, send us a photo or video of the bat and tell us exactly where you found it.
Remember: bats do not seek contact with people, and the accidental appearance of the animal in an apartment is no reason for fear or aggression. Calm and careful actions will help it return safely to the wild.
