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How To Safely Release A Bat

  • If a bat is flying inside the living space of a building, it will be extremely stressed.
  • It is important not to chase the bat or try to grab in the air as this will lead to serious injury to the bat.
  • Remember the animal is scared and will try to bite if handled so please ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES when handling a bat.
  • If the temperature is above 7 degrees and mild, you can confine the bat to one room, turn out the lights and open all exterior windows and doors fully to allow the bat to escape.
  • If the bat is found during the day, it is always best to allow the bat to land, then carefully contain within a small secure shoe box (please refer to Finding a Bat and safely and securely preparing your shoe box).
  • Always make sure that the box is well ventilated but that the holes are no larger than the point of a pen, to remove risk of the bat escaping.
  • You can place a small soft drinks bottle top of water in the box and a little jelly from wet cat/dog food.
    Bat release
    • Leave the bat in a quiet room until at least 20 minutes after dark. Then take the box outside, open the box and place on a small wall or wheelie bin, tilting it on its side.
    • Please stay and observe that the bat flies away and has not just crawled off.
    • If the bat does not fly off after 30 minutes, close the box, place back in a quiet room and contact your local wildlife rescue.
    • Bats are not aggressive and will not attack you but a bat may bite in self-defence if you try to pick it up. Therefore, ALWAYS USE GLOVES if you need to handle a bat.
    • If it is a mild evening and the bat is trapped inside, confine the bat to a room with access to the outside through a door or window. This will allow the bat to escape. Open the window(s) fully or exterior doors fully, switch off the lights and close any interior doors and let the bat fly out. If you are not sure whether it has flown out check behind curtains, behind wall hangings or pictures and also lower down under sofas etc.
    • If it is daylight, wait until it lands and contain it in a shoe box with a secure lid until sunset. The best way to pick up a bat is to wear thick gloves and a mask, scoop it up gently with a soft cloth and place in a prepared shoe box (or equivalent). Remember to ensure that there are pin holes in the lid to allow air to get into the box. Place a clean bottle top or jam jar lid with a few drops of water in the box.