Bats or sometimes called flying rats do not usually fly into people’s homes. If they somehow flew right into your living room, they were probably chasing an insect. Many people panic once they see the furry animal flapping its wings inside the house but this should be avoided as this can make the bat agitated and prone to biting. Just stay still and be quiet. It is not in the nature of bats to suddenly swoop down and attack humans.
Stow away your baseball bat or golf club and simply wait for the bat to land. Switching on the lights puts the bat into a drowsy state as they naturally roost in dark, secluded places during the day. If the bat has landed on the floor, grab a towel or if you are desperate and in a hurry, the tablecloth is fine and enclose the bat with it. Although less than 1% of bats carry rabies, wear thick rubber gloves or oven mitts when holding a bat as it might bite.
You might hear a buzzing sound from within the bundled bat which is its echolocation at work. Echolocation occurs when bats produce high pitched sounds beyond the human hearing range which help them locate their prey by listening attentively to the echoes that return to them.
Carry the bat to a tree and unfold the towel near the trunk. The bat should scramble up the tree and fly away. You could release the bat on the ground but bats have difficulty becoming airborne from the ground. Quickly close your door in case the bat decides to fly in again!
If the bat lands on the curtain, use a cardboard box or a container with a lid and slowly place the opening of the box or container on the bat. Carefully turn the box or container the right way up with the bat safely inside, carry it outside the house and release it.
Do not worry if there is guano from the bat’s untimely visit as humans cannot get rabies from having contact with it. Simply use your rubber gloves to clean it up.