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Found a Bat in Your House in the UK? Here's What to Do

Finding a bat in your home can be alarming, but it is important to know that all UK bat species are legally protected and must be handled with care. This guide explains what to do — whether the bat is flying around your room or found grounded and injured.

All UK Bats Are Protected by Law

All 18 species of bat native to the UK are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. It is a criminal offence to intentionally kill, injure, or take a bat, or to damage, destroy, or obstruct access to a bat roost — even when the roost is not currently occupied.

This legal protection means that bats in your house — whether flying around a room or roosting in the loft — cannot simply be removed or evicted. If you have a bat roost in your property, you must consult with Natural England (England), NatureScot (Scotland), or Natural Resources Wales before carrying out any building or renovation work that might affect the roost.

The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) provides a national bat helpline (0345 1300 228) staffed by trained volunteers who can advise on bats in houses, roost queries, and how to handle injured bats. This should be your first point of contact.

A Bat Flying Around Your Room: What to Do

A bat flying around your room has usually entered through an open window or door, often by accident. In most cases, the simplest solution is to open a window or door wide and dim the lights — the bat will usually find its way out on its own within minutes. Turn off ceiling fans and clear the room of obstacles where possible.

If the bat does not leave on its own after 20–30 minutes, you may need to gently guide it out. Put on thick gloves and slowly approach the bat when it lands. Using a container (a box or a towel), gently contain the bat against a flat surface and take it outside, releasing it near a tree or hedge after dark. Bats are nocturnal — releasing during daylight exposes them to predators.

Do not handle a bat with bare hands. Bats very rarely carry rabies in the UK, but a small proportion of Daubenton's bats (and other species) have tested positive for European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV). While the risk of transmission to humans is very low, anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should wash the wound thoroughly and contact their GP or NHS 111 for public health advice.

A Grounded or Injured Bat: What to Do

A bat found on the ground during daylight is usually in trouble. Common causes include exhaustion, dehydration, and injury (including from cats or road traffic). Young bats (called pups) sometimes fall from roosts in summer and may appear helpless on the ground.

Contact the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) helpline on 0345 1300 228 for advice on handling and next steps. If you need to handle a grounded bat, use thick gloves or a folded cloth to pick it up gently. Place it in a cardboard box with ventilation holes, lined with a clean dry cloth. Do not offer food or water unless specifically advised by the BCT helpline.

Keep the bat in a warm, dark, quiet place while you arrange collection by a licensed bat carer. The BCT maintains a network of trained bat carers across the UK who can rehabilitate injured bats — this is specialist work requiring a licence and should not be attempted by untrained individuals.

Bats in the Loft: Your Rights and Responsibilities

Discovering that bats roost in your loft or roof space is common across the UK, particularly in older properties. Common UK loft bats include the common pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle. Roosts are usually used seasonally — a maternity roost where females gather to give birth and rear pups, typically from May to August.

Bats rarely cause structural damage — they do not gnaw, make a nest, or cause significant damage to buildings. Bat droppings are dry and friable, and while they accumulate in a roost area, they do not typically cause the same issues as rodent infestations. They can, however, contaminate insulation material.

If you need to carry out roof work near a bat roost, you must contact Natural England (England), NatureScot (Scotland), or Natural Resources Wales to discuss whether a bat survey and European Protected Species licence is required. Carrying out work that destroys or disturbs a roost without a licence is a criminal offence with potential fines. The BCT website provides detailed guidance for homeowners with bat roosts. [Compare vet prices near you](/compare-vet-prices/) if emergency stabilisation is needed.

Find a Vet Near You

If a bat requires emergency veterinary stabilisation and no bat carer is immediately available, some vet practices can provide basic care. Always call ahead — not all vets are experienced with bats. CompareMyVet can help you find practices near you. Visit [app.comparemyvet.uk](https://app.comparemyvet.uk) to search for local practices.