Do bats sleep in the same place every night?

Bats need different roosting conditions at different times of the year and they will often move around to find a roost that meets their needs. Some bats prefer hollow trees, some like caves and some use both at different times. Many bats shelter in buildings, behind hanging tiles and boarding or in roof spaces.

Where do bats sleep at night?

Most bats hibernate in deep caves and tunnels, which are common in New England. With their main food source of insects not able to live during the winter, bats save their energy by hibernating in these deep caves until the food sources (and the warmer weather) return.

Do bats leave your house every night?

Bats must be given the time to fly out of your home on their own, which they will do approximately every night when they go in search of food.

How long are bats active at night?

Bats are the most active at night between the hours of dusk to dawn. As night approaches, bats begin to increase their activity. They will start flying around their cave and then leave in search of food and water. Bats will typically feed for about an hour or two, rest for a bit, then feed again before daybreak.

Where do bats go during the night?

Did you know over 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination? Yes, you heard that right! Bats help spread seeds for nuts, figs, bananas, avocados, mangoes and cacao- the key element present in chocolate. Without bats, we also wouldn’t have flora like the iconic Saguaro cactus. They are the only true flying mammals to inhabit most parts of Asia, America, Australia, and all of Europe. There are between 900 to 1250 species of bats and represent nearly 20% of all mammal species.

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Stay Calm, Follow These Bat Removal Instructions
Wait, What Does a Bat in my House at Night Mean Though?
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Do bats sleep in the same place every night?
Where do bats sleep at night?
Do bats leave your house every night?
How long are bats active at night?

According to Wildlife Animal Control in San Antonio bats are the second largest and most diverse group of mammals after rodents. They are known to live around 30 years, which is nearly three times that of other mammal life spans. Their long lives are sometimes related to their sleeping habits. Bats hibernate and spend less energy daily during their torpor semi-hibernation state. Bats love the night time and it is no secret that they are most comfortable in dark spaces. They sleep hanging upside down. These traits have helped the entertainment industry to create a picture of evil while portraying these winged mammals. This upside-down sleeping habit allows them to gather up close together for protection in the cold climates and against predatory animals.

Bats are the rulers of the night sky, but many don’t know exactly what they do at night. Scientists and other wildlife technicians have been dedicating their time to observe these flying mammals and jot down their behaviors at night. The peak hours for bat activity take place mostly at dusk to dawn. That does not mean you will see all the bats out as soon as the sun sets, because bat activity starts at nightfall and increases gradually as the night progresses.

While we are all asleep, bats are out hunting and mating during the favorable seasons. Contrary to belief, their night activities are very beneficial to human beings. They can navigate the night to find water and insects using their inbuilt sonar detectors. They help in reducing the population of mosquitoes, moths and beetles. They typically feed twice a night; each sortie consisting of around two hours. Bats are not evil like the local folklore or the rumors of Hollywood. They are nocturnal which adds to their mystery. While bats are essential for our environment you don’t want to have them flying around your house and roosting within the crevices. Though you are very much inclined to remove bats from your structure, we suggest you restrict them from roosting by installing fine meshing at entry points of your home.

It is imperative that you know most bat species in the United States are protected by state and federal law. Due to these laws, we at Accurate Pest Control in San Antonio suggest you leave the removal methods to the professionals. Let the experienced wildlife control professionals come up with a safe and responsible removal plan.

We receive more panicked phone calls for a bat in my house at night than at any other type of call. It’s understandable though. For the majority of people who’ve never dealt with a bat in the house or even seen one in the wild, it can be panic inducing especially when roused from a sound sleep by it.

While it can be disconcerting to find a bat in my house at night, we hope you can at least find some comfort in the fact that bats being active at night is normal. If you find an active bat in your house during the middle of the day, it’s actually much more concerning.

So, what do you do when there is a bat in your house in the middle of the night?

Stay Calm, Follow These Bat Removal Instructions

One of the most critical things you need to figure out first is if ANY PERSON or ANY PETS have come into contact with the bat. This needs to be assessed quickly to decide what you need to do next. In the event you are unsure, follow the instructions for contact. Better safe than sorry.

There WAS Contact With the Bat

Capture the bat! Do not let it out of your sight if at all possible. This bat will need to be turned over to the state vet’s office for rabies testing. There are various methods to capture it depending on your comfort level. No matter how you do this, we recommend you wear long sleeves, pants, and thick leather gloves while doing it.
- When it’s landed, throw a bucket or small trash can over it and slide a piece of cardboard under the edge to contain it. Flip it right side up. The bat won’t be able to climb the slick sides of the bucket. If it makes you more comfortable, you can put something over the opening of the bucket.
- When the bat has landed throw a towel over top of it. It won’t be able to fly from under it, but you will want to grab it (in the towel) pretty quick. You’ll have to place it in a plastic or metal container. Some people even throw them in a piece of tupperware with a lid.
- You can ATTEMPT to catch it mid flight with a butterfly net or something like that. It is pretty difficult to do. Plus, you then have to get it out of the net and into a container.
Once caught, you will need to submit the bat in my house at night for rabies testing. How to accomplish this will vary by location. You can call your local animal control (sometimes just the sheriff’s office) and ask them if they will come get it. Some will, some won’t. If they won’t collect it for testing, they may have the phone number for who you need to contact. If they don’t, next call the local humane society. They won’t be able to collect it, but they may know the drop off locations. Many drop off locations are local vets offices and they can take it from there. Should the humane society not know, call a local veterinarian. If all else fails, Google “get a bat tested for rabies near me”.
If the bat was killed during capture or dies soon after from stress, you will need to put it in the fridge (Do not put it in the freezer) for specimen preservation. The brain tissue has to be examined so don’t crush the head. Since bats are so small, they start to decay quickly. If you do not put it in the fridge, there may not be anything left to test by the time it gets to the lab.

There WAS NOT Contact With the Bat

There is no need to “catch” the bat unless it just won’t go out. Use airflow to help the bat find a way out.

Open a door or unscreened window for the bat to feel fresh airflow.
Turn the lights down. Some recommend turning the lights off, but for me personally I want to see it go outside and I can’t do that in the pitch black. I’ve even seen this done with all the lights in the room on, but it is a longer process as the lights disorient the bats.
If the bat just won’t fly outside and you have to catch and release, just follow the steps above making sure to have on long sleeves, pants, and thick leather gloves. Do not let it go if during the catch process you have skin contact with the bat or think it bit you through your clothing. If you catch it and everything goes smoothly, just let it go outside.

I Couldn’t Catch the Bat and I’m Not Sure About Contact

Please consult your health professional right away. You may need to undergo a course of rabies shots. The CDC recommends rabies shots if the bat was in the room with an unsupervised child, anyone with mental disabilities, or anyone impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Wait, What Does a Bat in my House at Night Mean Though?

There is more than one answer to that question, however, it is highly likely that you have a colony of bats living somewhere in the house with you. We highly recommend you contact us so we can discuss your individual situation.

There are things you can do yourself to see if you have a bat infestation. We are happy to go over the things you can do and the things you shouldn’t do yourself. If you know you have a bat infestation, set up an inspection with us. We will get you a customized proposal to get the bats out completely. Call our customer service at 877-264-2287 or click the link below for us to call you.

We hope you had great success with getting the bat in my house at night out of your house! And if it was a frightening experience, don’t let it happen again. Call today.

Get Help Today!

Your local bat removal expert,

Michael Koski