Is it legal for me to trap a bat?

So you find that you have a bat or two in your attic and so you decide to try to trap this little critter so you can get rid of it. You go out and get a trap and some bait and set it up, then you wonder if you have the right to do this. You question whether it is legal to actually trap a bat. That is a good question.



There are many areas of the country where odd laws are in place that limit your ability to trap certain animals. For example, in some areas of this nation it is illegal to trap raccoons or possums. There is a good reason for doing this, but for a person being hounded by one of these animals the reason seems ridiculous when you simply want this animal away from your home.

So now you wonder if you may have wasted your money in buying this trap to catch the bat. Maybe you simply cannot do this. Well fear not. It is perfectly legal for you to trap a bat in the United States. There are currently no laws against you doing so, thus making it perfectly acceptable for you to do so.

The real question about catching one of these animals is not whether you can, but whether you should. It is one thing if a bat were to fly into your home and you are simply trying to get it out. Knocking it down and throwing a blanket over it to take it outside to get rid of makes perfect sense. However, if you have a bat or bats living in your attic you may have to ask yourself if trapping the animal is the best option for you.

It is clear that you want this animal out of your home, but is it safe for you to take the risk of trying to release this animal once you have trapped it. This critter may try to bite you which can be dangerous to your health. Make sure you wear gloves when you move the cage. You may find that simply scaring the bats away is a better idea.

If you have been bitten by a bat in your home, then you will want to catch the animal. It may have rabies and you need to have it checked, so know that it is legal for you to be able to do so.

Go back to the How Do You Get Rid of Bats in Buildings home page or email me for more information about Is it legal for me to trap a bat?