Bat House Forum

[whyme]

Hello all,
I am a recent homeowner. I really never had any problems with bats until I bought my first house. The first encounter I had was in May of 2010. I was watching a vampire movie (no pun) when out of the corner of my eye a bat flew in. At that point I had never seen a bat in real life. Im 6'6 270 lbs and I was scared out of my mind. I couldnt get him to leave and then I lost him. No idea where he went. Then a few days later I noticed him again. I know this will offend a lot of people on here but I shot him with a bb gun. I felt bad for the little bugger. Everything was fine and dandy for exactly one year. When I was watching tv my bulldog started staring at the wall. I usually believe they are staring at ghosts not bats! and sure enough a bat started flying around my room. Well research from my last encounter told me I should catch it and have it tested for rabies because it was in my room. So I caught it humanly however me being the dope that I am didnt realize apparently bats need air. That bat died and the woman from the health department seemed relieved. I was starting to get worried and paranoid because I have no idea how long the bat was in my room. Was it just that night or has it been days. While awaiting for tests results and asking everyone and their brother if i should get the rabies shot, I tried to conclude where the bats came from. In one room I have an old fireplace. (First bat) In another room an attic. (second bat). The bat came back negative. Thank God! But my days of terror are not over ladies and gentleman. Last night/this morning I was watching tv and low and behold atleast one (maybe two bats started flying around the room. I grabbed both of my bullies and yelled for my fiance to get outside. Im fairly positve she closed our bedroom door. The only escape route is in the kitchen and then basement. I told her bats can have rabies and I have to catch them. So i grabbed some welders gloves put on my high school football helmet and went bat hunting. But I looked everywhere and couldnt find them. My fiance wasnt living with the previous times and often joked about my paranoia of rabies. But this time however she is like me. Is there a chance the bats have been chilling with us for weeks on end? Since I cant find them should we get the vaccine? Is there a chance theyve been in our room taking nibbles on us? I am really getting tired of this issue. I read that bat proofing can cost minimum 1500. Please help!

-Why ME

[Markcuda]

Welcome
Trust me, the bats are not eating on you when you sleep.
They are in your attic, they are getting in your living space some how, fine out where they are getting in at.

[Joe Spencer]

Are you in the states or Canada?

What state?

What have been your daytime highs around the time of the encounter?

[whyme]

Hey Joe,
I live in Ohio. We had a horrible heat wave roll through last week however no bats. Last night/this morning day time temps mustve been 70 at night 85-90 during the day. Its funny I bought my house which is right across from my high school and we had bats show up in our classroom all the time. I'm starting to wonder our safety in the house. As we speak we aree in the living room with all the doors closed. I know the chances of rabies from a bat is slim but its still scary. In 2010 (ohio) 3' animals were submitted to the health departments to check for rabies. 47 of them were rabid. With bats being the most infected and raccoons was second with 3 being infected. However this stat doesn't show how many bats were tested. Scary stuff man

[whyme]

I'm sorry that was supposed to say 3,000+

[Terry Lobdell]

Only one in 200 bats carries rabies........the bats that are coming into your place are most likely pups that have just learned how to fly.......

You mentioned a fireplace.......can you go up and put a screen on the chimney? I have seen many bats fly down chimneys because it is their instinct to explore crevices........

[whyme]

We sealed the fireplace off with cardboard. I checked it and it was intact. I was thinking about putting in bat houses however I live in town my lawn is almost non-existant. The only places for the bats to roost are these two big trees and the houses. I'm not sure how the town or my neighbors would feel about it. As far as the two bats from this last contact I have no idea where they flew to. The only place couldve been the basement. The room that leads to the attic was closed. I know they can crawl but couldn't have been that fast. I've searched the house looking for them no trace. I've read horror stories that some houses have had 300 to 500 bats in them. Makes me cringe thinking that could be me.

[Markcuda]

I'm not sure how the town or my neighbors would feel about it.

Wow, I think you are getting all worked up for nothing
Why do you care what other people think if you put up a bat house?
Take some pictures of your house, your yard lay out for us?
People are afraid of the things they don't know about.
The same applies to bats.
Get some pictures for us, if you can.
There are allot of ideas for bat house displacement.