BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???

Subject: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 12:48 PM

Well, well, well...

Bobert's saga continues and now it's bats... And lots of them... Maybe 50 or so... They are all in an attic storage room on a screen (which must have a hole in it) in the vent portion of the gable...

Smoke bomb??? If so, what kind???

Exorcism??? If so, where do find a good exorcists these days?

No, Rap... No guns!!!

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 12:53 PM

In the UK, getting rid of them would be illegal although I think you can seal up after they have moved on. It could be quite different in the US of course but I'd still suggest checking up on this.

Another suggestion would be to find out if there are any bat conservation or wild life groups who could advise you or help you out.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Will Fly
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 12:53 PM

What species are they? Are they rare? Bats are great little creatures - but perhaps 50 roosting is a tad too many, even for a bat lover...

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 12:57 PM

I like them too. Have handled pipestrelle and one notctule when my mother was part of some bat group.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 01:52 PM

"In the UK, getting rid of them would be illegal..." I a house? That's unreal!

I would think it wouldn't take much smoke. Same way ya ward off skeeters with a smoke pot.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 02:04 PM

I'm glad they are protected, gnu.

Here is a link

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 02:13 PM

They wouldn't be protected if they were my house. Might be in serious danger actually.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 02:13 PM

You can use all that guano on your garden, too...

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 02:34 PM

Wait till Linn (BatGoddess) sees this - she might have some useful advice.

Careful around the guano. Histoplasmosis is not a fun illness to get over. My ex was sick for almost two months with it after cleaning up a dead bat on a tour route in Mammoth Cave.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Greg F.
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 03:10 PM

Classic solution is to find out how they're getting into the attic, wait until they're all out hunting ca midnight or so & plug the hole (or holes) so they can't get back in.

If ya don't get 'em all first time round, you may have to re-open the hole & let the remainder out a second night & then plug it up again.

Professional wildlife control dudes ( e.g. "VexCon" of "Dirty Jobs" fame) have one-way devices they can install to let 'em out & not back in.

You don't want to be killing 'em if they're a protected species - which a lot of 'em are- especially with the current mass bat die-offs in the US due to White Nose Syndrome. see http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 03:11 PM

SRS... that ain't all they carry. Nasty critters.

I love em. I was thinking about a bat house on the rear of my garage but I didn't get around to it yet.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: pdq
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 03:11 PM

Bats are filthy little creatures. They spread mites, bedbugs, fleas and lice.

They are a major source of rabies.

They must be excluded by proper screening, but that must be done at night when they are out.

Their guano should be cleaned out and the area disinfected. Chlorine bleech may work.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 03:27 PM

What harm have they actually done you Bobs
They're best left alone, and they will then return the favour.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Deckman
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 03:37 PM

Some years ago, my daughter and her family had to sell her house, at a loss, and move. The bat infestation was simply terrible. There was NO sleeping at night as they had taken over the entire roof area of the house. Every attempt they tried failed. bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 03:44 PM

I too would not like having bats living in my home and I would take steps to get them out. I have heard of building bat houses, however.

Condemning the whole species, imo, is ignorance in an undiluted form. Bats do far more good in the world- and in our communities - than they do harm. Believing and acting otherwise stems from fear and may I say?: stupidity.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Deckman
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 03:47 PM

The ONLY bats I've ever condemned were the ones living in my daughter's attic.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 03:54 PM

No, I don't want to kill them... I like bats... Just not in the house...

The area they are in is housing lots of our stuff and I don't want their disease carryin' poo all over our stuff and I don't want to go in there looking fir somethin' and get them aroused and maybe get bit and have to get rabies shots in the tummy for 10 'r 20 days...

They gotta go!!!

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 03:54 PM

Ebbie... google bat houses. easy to build and bats eat more skeeters than Purple Martens... all night long.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 03:56 PM

Smoke pot Bobert... ya know how to make a smoke pot fer skeeters eh? Yer a farmin/country boy kinda guy.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 04:10 PM

Ahhhhhh, "smoke pot"??? Maybe that's what brought them in the house to begin with???

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: maeve
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 04:19 PM

Bobert- Below are three links with varying kinds of bat removal information for your general area. Seems to me you'll want to know what kind of bats you have, and whether there are babies. Beyond that you may find it's worth it to hire an experienced and effective bat removal company to reduce your exposure to the disease dangers while protecting the bats from unnecessary stress.

I'd at least spread plastic over the stored goods in the meantime. One of the links gives advice regarding the kind of protective measures to take when handling cleanup- you may need to first decide how to remove the guano that has already dropped on your boxes- be careful!

http://www.batmanagement.com/Ordering/eviction%20package/evictpack.html

http://www.wildlife-removal.com/bat.htm

http://www.probatremoval.com/northcarolinabatremoval.htm

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: maeve
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 04:21 PM

Hmmm The first link didn't make a blue clicky...here it is again:

http://www.batmanagement.com/Ordering/eviction%20package/evictpack.html

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 05:18 PM

Smoke pot... a bucket into which you put dry stuff... twigs, leaves, whatever. Light it up and put green grass and dry stuff as appropriate to make the whole works smolder and produce a long lastin gentle waft of smoke.

I thought everyone who lived on the land knew of this???? No?

If my forefathers had not known of this I wouldn't be here on accounta the black flies, let alone the skeeters, woulda et them while they were cuttin pulp and pickin spuds.... tryin ta scratch a livin outta the fly infested bog country a Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada. They didn't have no DEET back then... just determination.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 06:25 PM

But, wouldn't the smoke make them sleepy? Too much so to fly away? I am thinking of how smoke blown into a bee hive will act as a soporific making it easier to get to the honey.

I hope Bat Goddess comes in with some suggestions. She's had bats in her house before and knows a lot about them.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 06:32 PM

Nope... the bats will flock off as soon as they smell the smoke because they don't live in a nest.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Melissa
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 06:36 PM

Did you try annoying them with a radio or something noisy? I don't know anything about it, but it seems like noise would aggravate them into wanting to find a different home.

If you blared the attic while they were out, they might start thinking about looking for a new place to live..maybe.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 06:45 PM

Great idea Melissa! Worth a shot anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 06:53 PM

Send for Bruce Wayne

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 07:12 PM

Hey, ain't bats deaf 'er somethin'???

No, they are blind...

I don't even want to be in the storage room with them to cover the boxes... I'm afraid that one swoop down and bite me and I have to get the tummy shots...

I'm gonna make some calls...

Ain't many things on earth that gives me the creeps but as much as I like bats in other folks houses, these sumabichs give my boney butt the creeps!!!

I ain't lyin'...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: ranger1
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 07:19 PM

Bobert, they don't give you rabies shots in the stomach anymore. And I think bat removal is probably best left to experts. I understand phobias. Winged ants send me off the deep end. I like bats a lot, but wouldn't want them in my house, either.

And I can't believe no one has made the obvious "Bobert's got bats in his belfry" comment yet!

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 08:16 PM

Thanks, ranger... I needed that... You know, the bats in the belfry" comment...lol...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 08:20 PM

Thanks, maeve, for those sites... I checked 'um all out and they sound like the way I need to go but with locals... I'll do some Googling around to see if I can find some folks...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: kendall
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 08:55 PM

I keep mice out of my antique car with moth balls. Bats probably don't like them either.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 09:14 PM

Bobert:

The simplest way to rid the area of bats is to put a night light in the room. Even a very low power LED type will keep them from coming back.

If that fails, you need to hang bird netting over the places where they go in and out. Secure it at the top but not at the bottom. This will allow the little buggers to go out but it will keep them from coming back in. Apparently, the way they're built they will climb down the netting to get out but not up to get back in. After a week or two, when they have all moved to your neighbor's house, plug the holes. Steel wool works well for this purpose. We paid somebody $200 to do that and there have been no bats for about 15 years.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 09:20 PM

Cool, Bev N' Jerry...

I like that and can do that and not get bit...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: pdq
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 09:33 PM

The light trick is very good advise.

I used to have several reflector-type lights that clip on the nearest 2X4 and are used in remodeling.

String together as many as you can and set them up in the daytime.

Bats leave at dusk, so wait until it is fully dark outside, then plug 'em in.

The light will shine out through holes that you otherwise may miss.

Plug all holes while the critter are out feeding. Steel wool is a great tool for that job.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 09:43 PM

Call up Chongo, Bobert. He'll take 'em out! When he arrives, you had best vacate the premises for an hour or two, cos there'll be a lot of gunfire and explosions. I'd relocate to at least a mile away unless there's a brick wall or something that you can hunker down behind.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 10:20 PM

Thanks, LH... I've seen Chongz work and when it comes to destruction he's the da man... I mean, chimp, ape, monkey, whatever... But he can sho nuff wreck a place in no time...

But ya' see, ahhhhhh, how to say this delicately??? We just want the bats gone but the house to stay... I mean, hard to live in a pile of rubble that Chongz would most likely leave behind...

Yeah, okay, I'll admit that he not only get all my bats but all the bats within 25 miles but that ain't the object here...

But thanks...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Deckman
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 10:43 PM

I'm a little surprised that, yet anyway, no one has posted any recipes! (O.K. I can take a hint .... OH ... there's my coat .... bye now)

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 11:24 PM

Perhaps Batboy could serve as a technical consultant to help you out with this problem, Bobert.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 02:39 AM

They are obviously comfortable in your abode so I would be inclined to blast them with heavy metal or something like Black Sabbath when they are trying to get some sleep.....or Slim Whitman! Anything is worth a try.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 10:45 AM

There's a K-tel collection of 100 of Bobby Vinton's Greatest Hits that I'm sure would do the job...

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: kendall
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 11:06 AM

That night light sounds like a simple remedy; Much easier than collecting Moth balls. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: ranger1
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 06:54 PM

OMG Little Hawk! I'd forgotten all about Batboy! Our favorite Batboy headline was "Batboy Bites Santa".

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 07:50 PM

I've got the phone numbers of 3 local companies that deal with bats so it must be a problem in this part of the country... I'll be calling them tomorrow and set up an appointment...

I now think I know why we have that smell in certain parts of the house...

Gonna take a while to get this house back to 100%... Meanwhile, it's still a great house...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Ebbie
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 10:43 PM

Hmmmm What did you say the reason was that the previous owners sold? :)

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 12:35 AM

It could be worse?

John

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 08:29 AM

Yeah, John.... I read about the snake-house... Looks as if the bank now owns it...

Seems that bats are more common here in southern NC 'cause there are plenty of companies around that advertise getting rid of them... The problem is that seeing as they are on the endangered species list that no one will do anything before August 1st when the babies are old enough to fend for themselves???

Hmmmmmmm??? So I not only have a bat house but a hatchery, as well...

No, Eb... The former owners sold it because the owners lost their jobs and couldn't keep the payment up... But it does make you wonder...

"Every thing is broken" (Dylan)

No matter... I have figured out the odor problem... Hopefully when the bats go the odor will dissipate with time and cleaning...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 12:16 PM

The answer to the odor problem is to get a bunch of pet skunks (NOT the de-scented ones!). You won't even notice the odor from the bats after a week or so.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 05:19 PM

"Sessions said that he has been diagnosed with snake-related post-traumatic stress disorder and that the house should be condemned."

Oh fer gosh sakes. I'd say it was stress about getting screwed over by the sellers.

As far as the bats go, Bobert, get after them and don't worry about THEir environment. Do the netting or the light or the music thing and don't let several dozen bats infest your home with disease and batshit. If it was my house, the flying rats would already be goneD one way or another.... in a max of two days if I had let them live which I definitely would tried to accomplish but wouldn't be terribly concerned about if they didn't flock off.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 07:07 PM

Here's what I have learnt up, gn-ze...

Bats freak the heck out when they ain't happy and then they will fly, crawl squirm anywhere they can get to get away from Bobby Goldsboro's "Honey" or AC/DC's "She Shook Me All Night Long"... Same with the light...

Ya' see, if I think I have a problem now then it will be much worse when they run & hide and die in the walls of the house... Then we'll have dead bat quilt and stink on out hands for years...

Trust me... I have researched these varmints enough to know that I gotta play by the rules or suffer the consequences...

I bat guy is coming on Thursday mornin' and we'll come up with a plan...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 08:18 PM

Fire up some good smoke an play some blues out in tha yard. They'll come to the tunes and have a sniff an get mellow an... wait... they might hang tough after they hear you play... nevermind.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 08:21 PM

Almost a good idea, gn-zer...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 08:56 PM

Bats are wonderful beasts. I have them in my roof and always have, and I'm proud of it. I love sitting out (glass in hand) on a warm evening admiring their sheer skill in catching insects. A couple of times we've had one in our bedroom, but a cheapo kids' fishing net is all it takes to gently remove the accidental intruder back outside. Have a close look at a bat if you can. They are elegant and beautiful and perfectly adapted to their environment.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 09:11 PM

The poster, of course, is gargoyle...

---

I too ... LIKE BATS

If I had a few ... they would live our hats.

More have died from insect bites

Than ever crossed the styx

From the infections of the bat mammal types

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 09:14 PM

When Pip looked after them, some had a test flight in one of the bed rooms before release. Their aerobatic skills are quite incredible.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 11:48 PM

Yeah, they're amazing little creatures. And they eat all kinds of bothersome insects.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 02:00 PM

A bat or two is one thing... 40,50,60 and 100 ain't... What we have is what is known in the business as a "colony" of bats... I don't even want to know how many there are but we can smell them so it must be a lot... Plus, we have stuff stored in a room up there and who wants their stuff covered in bat poo... The stuff, BTW, is supposed to cause some serious illnesses...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bettynh
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 03:20 PM

Our next-door neighbor had a colony of bats under his roof when my kids were little. Suddenly my 4-year-old announced "My bat says I don't have to go to bed." We had a colony of virtual bats to discuss for awhile (it got baroque when papa bat was in a car accident and landed in a wheelchair). His twin was baffled, since HE never had a bat.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 04:41 PM

Well, as Count Dracula once said, Bobert, "You can never have too many bats."

You should consider purchasing a large pipe organ and start playing it madly and majestically in the wee hours of the night to help inspire these "children of the night". With luck, you may even get some packs of wolves to hang out near your property and serenade you by moonlight. These animal "familiars" can then be used to keep away undesirables, like Republicans and NASCAR fans... ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 06:56 PM

Sooooo... why haven't you put the smoke to them yet? I wouldn't let them stay another night... errrr... day.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 07:28 PM

Here's the problem, gn-zer... Ya' smoke 'um and it get's them panicking and that means that some will, in the panic, go elsewhere and die and stink up your house alot worse than getting them all out...

The bat-man (lol) said that they way they get them out will be 100%... In other words, no dead bats in the walls...

Plus, the sumabiches are too big to stuff into my hash pipe... lol...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 07:32 PM

I like hash. Especially corned beef hash but I don't cook it too often on accouanta the salt.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: olddude
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 08:35 PM

A ball and glove and an umpire to yell "Your Out"
give that a try bro ... I can even tape the Pittsburgh Pirates fer ya

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 08:41 PM

Yell "Your Out"!!!!

Just the umpire raising a finger works over here.

(I'd guess you are talking baseball though)

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 02:01 PM

The bat-man came and said that we have three basic colonies of bats... One has about 40 female bats and babies... The other has about 80 females with babies and the third is a male colony of 5 or 6... The good news is that they are not exactly in the attack... They have taken up residency on the screens in the vents... That is a blessing...

He wants to charge us $2000 to put up hardware cloth over the outsides of the vents with a small "bat valve" to allow them in and out until after the babies are old enough (August 1st) and then remove the valves and done...

My thinking is that if I have to wait that long I might as well just wait until the leave for winter and then do it myself and save the dough...

He also wants $400 to clean up around the vents... Heck, a respirator, a shop vac and some shellac and save that dough, too...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 02:11 PM

Definitely Bobert.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: pdq
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 02:48 PM

The respirator should be one of the certified pest control types that look like an Army gas mask. They have a small canister of filters including activated charcoal. Might be nice to get a few extra filters when you buy a mask.

A particle mask will not be adequate for this job.

Wash all clothes with lots of soap and bleech immediatly after work is done, they take a long shower.

This work should be fairly easy for an experienced house remodeler.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 03:32 PM

Indeed, the respirator should be the proper standard for such work. I have one but the code specs are different in the US I excpect. I used to wear mine in every attic I inspected and also in some basements. One job, I refused to go in the attic... I had gone in the basement and the rats were huge and quite curious. That's when I saw the rot in the floor support structure.

When I poked my head up in the attic and saw the amount of batshit on the floor, I came down the ladder and loaded up my quip. The lady asked me what I was doing and I said, "No charge for the inspection. Here's your report... Bulldozer required after the fire." She became quite upset as it was a "heritage" prpoerty and surely could be restored??? I reached into my pocket and offered her a book of matches... free of charge.... and said, "Buy it if you want. Have a nice day. I was never here."

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 05:32 PM

Be warned, Bobert, that if you deprive these bats of their legal domicile (under international Bats' Squatters Rights legislation) that your honorary membership in the VaFoVW (Vampires and Friends of Vampires Worldwide) will be revoked...permanently!

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 07:29 PM

Thats okay, LH... When the dues went to $50 a year I dropped out anyway...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 10:17 AM

But Bobert, will they leave for the winter or will they hibernate in your attic? Have you talked to your state wildlife service to get info on their life cycle?

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST,Uncle Rumpo
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 04:29 PM

Here is a 'fact' I just found on the internet.

I have no idea how 'true' it may be,
but nonetheless repeat it here in case it offers any inspiration
for concocting more imaginative methods in dealing with your pest problem.


"Male bats have the highest rate of homosexuality of any mammal."

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 07:30 PM

The attick is so well ventilated, leeneia, that when it gets into the 20s or teens they will be outta here... Actually, they are so easy to see as it is that I'll know by October what they have in their bat minds as far as winter goes...

As for my males??? Hey, its' their business...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 07:30 PM

The attick is so well ventilated, leeneia, that when it gets into the 20s or teens they will be outta here... Actually, they are so easy to see as it is that I'll know by October what they have in their bat minds as far as winter goes...

As for my males??? Hey, its' their business...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 10:02 PM

Okay, I've been thinkin' about this...you have 2 colonies totally about 120 females with babies...and one colony totalling 5 or 6 males.

I figger them male bats are already way too busy to have any TIME (or energy) LEFT to investigate the possibilities of homosexual relationships... ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: maeve
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 11:04 AM

We are delighted to have found a roosting bat in the soon-to-be-closed roof edge. Bats have been woefully absent in our area, so we're hoping this is a good sign that, like the birds and amphibians, bats have returned here as the land has been restored to health.

We will use screening with one way flaps to cover the exposed spaces until until each is covered by the supplied roof-edge trim...thus allowing the bat(s) to escape safely but not return.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 11:16 AM

Perhaps a bat exchange program could be set up so that people who want bats could receive them from people who don't want them (like Bobert).

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: maeve
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 11:43 AM

I don't know about that, LH. I surely don't want them in the house, but will be happy to have them outside. I think Bobert feels the same way.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: fretless
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 09:19 AM

Combination of smoke pot, night light, and plugging the entry holes after sundown will do the trick, then build a bat box for the poor darlings you've evicted assuming you still want their help in ridding the environs of skeeters and gnats.

And how come nobody has mentioned Brian Lies' children's book, Bats at the Beach, which has the bats entertaining themselves with banjos and other b-things? Lies has two subsequent books (for bats at the library and at the baseball game), but beach is his best.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 09:28 AM

Hey, don't get me wrong... I want the bats... Just not hanging in the vents of our house... Seems that they learned all their bathroom habits from Chongz and that ain't good...

I will build a bat house and take their poo and put it around the bat house so when they come back they'll maybe get it that they are not welcome living where they are now... Of course, the hardware cloth might tip them off as well...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 09:48 AM

"smoke pot, night light, and plugging the entry holes after sundown ..."

All good advice; in our case, we are building a house. The method of construction leaves enticing crevices that no self-respecting bat of wasp can resist. As we add the exterior trim and finish caulking we'll be all set. The screen flaps will allow bats to exit at night but not return. When we have any cash to spare we can add bat houses in the area.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 10:18 AM

"smoke pot, night light, and plugging the entry holes after sundown ..."

All good advice; in our case, we are building a house. The method of construction leaves enticing crevices that no self-respecting bat or wasp can resist. As we add the exterior trim and finish caulking we'll be all set. The screen flaps will allow bats to exit at night but not return. When we have any cash to spare we can add bat houses in the area.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bettynh
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 10:26 AM

Maeve, make note of the area the bats preferred. We set up a bathouse, but apparently it faces the wrong direction and remains unoccupied. When you're ready, you'll KNOW where the bats want to be.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 10:35 AM

Good idea, Bettynh. We'll do that.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 11:02 AM

A bat house should have at least 3 separate chambers so the bats can move as the temps change...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 01:58 PM

A few examples here: http://www.batmanagement.com/Batcentral/batcentral.html

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 07:02 AM

Don't bats hate garlic or is that a myth?

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: maeve
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 07:34 AM

Yes, that's a folkloric myth...and as far as I know was never applied to bats, but to their fantasy alter ego, the vampire.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Greg F.
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 09:11 AM

More bat house info here:

http://www.batcon.org/index.php/get-involved/install-a-bat-house.html

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 10:04 AM

I've heard that playing the theme music from the 60s Batman TV show at peak volume for hours at a time will drive bats (and most other living things) out of a building...

"Na-na..na-na..na-na..na-na...BATMANNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!"

;-D

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 10:10 AM

1960s Batman is still my favourite Batman I used to dance around the room to that in a circle with my friends. Strange lot they were.

Subject: RE: BS: How to Get Rid of Bats???
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 11:56 AM

...Bobby Goldsboro's "Honey" will 'cause "bat-implosion"... Very messy to clean up, I might add...

B;~)