Bat in my barn - any way to encourage it to move?

[LilyandBaron]

First, I am pro-bat - they kill lots of mosquitos, which is great! But there have been a few confirmed rabies cases in my area, so I’d prefer not having a bat live inside my barn!

I’ve seen it three times in the past month as it’s darker in the morning. First sighting, it was on the ground inside the door, and I thought it might be a dead rat (small) or huge mouse, but it unfurled its wings and went up in the rafters as I got closer. Second sighting it flew over my head, under the small hay loft floor, from outside. I guess coming in for the day? This morning, I was putting hay in hay bags (horses on pm turnout), saw shadow from lights, then it fluttered around a bit frantically in the stall, such that I ducked under the hay net! It finally went up and I saw it going into the walls. I have a gambrel roof barn with a central aisle, with a loft over part of the central aisle and a loft across the front of the barn. The walls of my pole barn stalls are upright oak boards, with gaps between the boards just perfect for bats to crawl between!

My barn cats are vaccinated and locked in the tack room at night, and horses are vaccinated and currently out at night. I don’t know that the bat is sick, but it is way too close for comfort, and I’d like to avoid any potential problems.

When I read on bat removal, it’s all for attics. I can’t close up my barn in the 90 degree heat, so what options do I have? I’ve read all the bat repellents are scams, but wondering about experiences? I’m game to put up bat houses outside of the barn, but how would I get them to relocate?

Thanks!

[Guilherme]

We’ve discouraged skunks and other nocturnal creatures by keeping lights on all the time.

G.

[Savannah_KP]

I’ve tried using the small devices that plug into an outlet in the house to keep bats out, but they still come in. Don’t bother buying any of those plug-in “repellents”. I would start by putting bat houses up, the higher the better. From my research (to try to keep them out of my house) they like warm places, so put the bat house where the sun will shine on it - some things I read say you can even paint it black, but I’m not sure that matters. You mentioned the horses are on PM turnout…is this all night? Could you close up the barn at night while the horses are out and open it back up in the morning after the bats have already roosted for the day?

[gumtree]

If you see a couple there are a lot more that you don’t see. The same for rats or mice.

I had lots of them in my barn. But only saw the odd one. They have no interest in the horses. I never worried about them. We had 10 barn cats also.

“been a few confirmed rabies cases in my area” In bats? From what I have read bats don’t carry rabies as the norm. And they don’t “bite” humans or animals unless cornered or attacked. Bats have gotten a bad rap over the years. Mostly by Hollywood.

A lot of them are on the endangered species list due to habitat destruction.

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

I would second the suggestion to build bat houses to encourage them to relocate. Definitely a neighbour I would encourage - they eat their body weight in pests!

[TooManyBays]

Can you see the bat sleeping in the day? Disturbing it will make it not want to live there. Currently your barn is a nice dry place to live. If you irritate it (air horn, poke it (gently) with a broom) during the day it will choose a different place to sleep the next night.
just don’t do this in the winter. That is how bats die

And are you really sure you want Mr. Bat gone? They don’t tend to bother anyone and are so beneficial. If you can live with him instead of evicting him, I would suggest that.

[SonnysMom]

@gumtree

“been a few confirmed rabies cases in my area” In bats? From what I have read bats don’t carry rabies as the norm. And they don’t “bite” humans or animals unless cornered or attacked. Bats have gotten a bad rap over the years. Mostly by Hollywood.

OP has her location as OH. Per OH Department of Health for confirmed rabies for OH for 2018: 21 out of 26 cases were bats. 6 in Franklin County the rest are all 1 or 2 per county. 4 Raccons and 1 fox for the rest.

2017: 13 out of 20 cases were bats.

Incidentally for PA for 2017

176 raccoon, 62 cat, 39 bat, 32 skunk, 25 fox so in PA bats are 3rd.

[gumtree]

@SonnysMom

OP has her location as OH. Per OH Department of Health for confirmed rabies for OH for 2018: 21 out of 26 cases were bats. 6 in Franklin County the rest are all 1 or 2 per county. 4 Raccons and 1 fox for the rest.

2017: 13 out of 20 cases were bats.

Incidentally for PA for 2017

176 raccoon, 62 cat, 39 bat, 32 skunk, 25 fox so in PA bats are 3rd.

I hear what you are saying. But considering there are thousands, 10s of thousands of those species. Do people really feel that unlucky to get bitten by one with rabies?? FAR greater chance of being hurt working with horses.

“Human rabies cases in the United States are rare, with only 1 to 3 cases reported annually. Twenty-eight cases of human rabies have been diagnosed in the United States since 2006, of which 8 cases were infected outside the United States and its territories.Jan 15, 2018”

CDC Study: More Than 100,000 Horse-Related Injuries per Year

[AKB]

Think about getting yourself preventive rabies vaccine. I got it about 10 years ago when we had a lot of rabid raccoons in our neighborhood. Now, I can enjoy seeing the bats who nest in my daughter’s barn. I smile when bats fly around our yard, just above my head. I figured that with the number of animals in our area, a rabies exposure was likely, sooner or later. The thought of the big, painful, injections of rabies immune globulin after an exposure made me worry. The preventive vaccine was easy, and alleviated all of my worries. Now, even if I am bitten by a rabid raccoon, I don’t need rabies immune globulin.

[LilyandBaron]

Vaccine is interesting! My property has woods and lots of critters so something to consider. However, in animals at least, even vaccinated animals need emergency care if exposed to confirmed cases - not sure if the iG shot or booster to vaccine, so will look into it.

Im leaving lights on for the next few nights. I could close the barn doors but they are sliders and not airtight, so ample space for a bat to still get in.

I really am pro bat, but not this close. Even a scratch from a frantic, scared bat trying to get away would mean possible exposure to rabies, and shots required. And yes, multiple confirmed cases in bats near me has me being cautious.