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Blind as a bat

We all know bats live in caves. However, for a number of reasons, bats sometimes get into
houses. If this happens to you, don’t panic! There are several ways of removing them, starting
with the simplest of all, which is opening all the windows and doors. Bats use echolocation or
sound waves to find their way around and identify where objects are. So a bat trapped indoors
may realise that a window or door is open, and simply fly out. You could try catching it with a 5
butterfly net, although this is pretty hard, especially if the bat is flying around. You might want to
wait for it to land, then net it.

Bats have a difficult time taking off from the ground, so use this to your advantage. If you can
gently knock the bat to the ground with a towel, it will be slower moving, and therefore easier to
remove. 10

A container such as a jar, bowl or bucket can be useful. Wait for the bat to land, then carefully
place the container over the bat. Slide a piece of paper under the container, and hey presto,
you've got the bat trapped! A good thing about doing it this way is that you can easily take the
bat to wherever you decide to release it.

Some people try to drape a blanket over the bat. If you do this, be careful. Remember, bats 15
have very fragile bones in their wings, so you don’t want to cause any injury. They are a
protected species, after all. It may even be a good idea to wear thick gloves.

If all else fails, and you can’t deal with it yourself, the best idea is to call in an expert to do the
job for you.

© UCLES 2020 E/S8/INSERT/01