Bats & “What’s a man to do?”

Planned to go walleye fishing early Friday on pool 4 with friend.
Retired Thur night about 10 PM.

Problem:
Heard whooshing sound in bedroom.
Bat flying around room.
Shut bedroom door.
Got dip net and temporally captured bat.
But, bat too fast and got away — poor dip netting skills.
Bat now hiding.
Searched for 2 hours.
Wife upset.
Slept on couch.
Up at 4 AM Friday searching for bat.
Can’t find bat.
Wife still upset.

Decision:
Stay home Friday and search for bat, or go fishing?
Really needed more dip netting practice to better catch fast moving bat.
Went fishing while wife stayed with bat.
Wife not happy.

Partner & I caught many fish – got much needed netting practice.
Had hot bite going at 3:30 PM – got a fish about every 5-10 minutes.
Told partner had to leave hot bite to catch bat.
Really wanted to fish more.
Left hot bite.

Went home and searched 2 more hours for bat.
Found bat hiding in folds of shirt hanging behind door.
Dip netted bat on first try (practice paid off).
Did catch & release.
Now big hero with wife.

“What’s a man to do?”
1. Should I have not gone fishing on Friday and searched for the bat instead?

2. Should I have continued practicing my netting skills with the hot bite going and forgot about the bat? Bat wasn’t going anywhere. Although, it could have died and stunk up the room a bit. Is a possibly rabid bat flying around the house a big deal to most wives?

Need suggestions in case this happens in future!

Dave Gulczinski

We had that problem once, it was at my dad’s house. We searched for hours before finding it again. It was something along the lines of a three stooges movie. Some things I learned that night:
Complete shakedown of bedroom on Thurs night. No net grab a tennis racket, not CPR but it works. Also give the wife a racket as she will love to hit something that scares her soooo much.

Note to self: watch out for wifes backhand

The movie ‘The Great Oudoors’ comes to mind – rent it and you will learn the proper attire and strategy to resolve this issue.

Glad to hear all is good on the home front!

ted merdan

The last guy I helped with a *bat hunt* was 6’9″, and about 360 pounds. The bat was clinging to a screen in the window, so he loded up his trusty revolver Co2 pellet gun and decided to shoot it. I tagged along because I thought it would be a sight to see…

I was right, it was a sight to ee, I didnt know he was a bad shot. He missed the bat when it was on the screen and it took flight. He unloaded how ever many pellets that thing held in less than a couple seconds… and continued to pull the trigger shooting at the speed of a AK47 for a few more seconds… nothing but air coming out. My biggest concern was where the pistol was pointing. Very soon, I heard this ultra loud, girlish scream, and I looked to see my 6’9″ friend bellowing out in a way an opera singer couldnt, and turning to make a run for the door.. I was between him and the door. I somehow managed to get out of the way of the charging bull and let him escape out the door. The bat was flying around franticly shreaking away… I walked over and pulled out the screen in the open window… About 10 seconds later the bat flew out the window.

A few minutes later my friend returned with a reloaded pistol and new Co2 catridge… I am glad I didnt have to witness it being fired again.

The next bat I had to deal with was in my own house.. I dealt with it solo as Sherry came running to me telling me of its presence. I think our cat got a hold of it, it wasnt flying, it was waddling around on the stair landing as I was eating bowl of cereal in another room. She insisted something was done, ad wouldnt do it.. so I grabbed the near by baseball bat, took a moderate swing which took care of the bat… and I went back to eating my bowl of cereal. She had a problem with the dead bat on the landng.. but I took care of it after eating my bowl of cereal and listened to her in a paniced complain the rest of the time

Suggestion to anyone.. if the bat is concieled in a room, open a window and remove the screen.. the bat doest want anything to do with you. Once you get the window open, dont let it land, or if it does, scare it back up.. they will find the window before long. The tennis raquet is a good idea.

Well… knowing the most bats eat bugs… I probably would have compromised and pulled out the fly fishing gear. If you can get that fly moving just right to catch a bat… then you are a fishing god in my book!!!

my wifes it is sured misquito controll with a pet bat flying around the house, so you will never wake up to the familar sound of a squiter again. the whooshing of the bat should lull you back to slumber in no time.

shane

If we EVER have a bat in the house…I would have all the time in the world to remove it for the FW and FD…as they would be in the nearest motel.

IF my FW would release me from her death clutch to go fishing…I would have practice netting until the bite was over. Practice makes perfect.

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Did catch & release.

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Your bat will be back they come back to the same locations year after year and that bat will find the same way back into your house for sure.

Bat expert here… darn pine trees, I’ve done at least 20 between friends, neighbors, and my houses over the years.
I used to get all dressed up in full hockey gear “goalie stuff” which makes it more difficult.
Now upon bat siting I try to isolate the bat immediately “close door if possible” they are just as scared as you “not Brian” and will fly back and forth and eventually land on the wall near the ceiling if you leave they will find places to hide making it more difficult.
I use a towel and just snatch them up and toss them outside towel and all a glove is an option also.

If you have frequent bat problems a bat house is a good idea haven’t had one sense the neighbor put one up a few years back.

We had a couple bats in the house last summer and let me tell you the fiance refused to go into the basement and would wake me up screaming in the middle of the night if she thought she saw or heard one. finally I got a guy in here to make sure they would never return. Have not had one in six months since. Let me know if you want his number fairly cheap for a good night sleep.

Good job Dave you did the right thing, you would make a good Diplomat. It was a win win situation. The only thing
you could have done better was to take me fishing
with you

Phil
WS

We used to have them quite a bit and the first thing you do is close doors to section off the escape which in turn leads to less time trying to find it. The next morning check all roof vents including bath vents. One flapped up shingle on the downhill side can let them in. Reapplying some sillicone to the vents doesnt hurt either. Next fab a small screen cover to place over your chimney. After years of bats I did this and havent had one in the house since!! Good luck. Now that I said that I will probably have a flock of them in the bedroom tonight!!

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Well… knowing the most bats eat bugs… I probably would have compromised and pulled out the fly fishing gear. If you can get that fly moving just right to catch a bat… then you are a fishing god in my book!!!

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Several years ago I did catch a BAT on a fly, a @16 sulfur on N. Branch Whitewater. I think my Father-in-law still laughs at that one, and NO, I didn’t get my fly back!

Halarious! This site can solve anybodys problems!