# How can I scare away a bat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 18, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-scare-away-a-bat/213962 "2003-11-18T20:08:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-scare-away-a-bat/213962/21 "2003-11-19T03:39:03Z")
[ul][li]Paste cut-out image of bat on flashlight.[/li][li]Shine flashlight at low clouds.[/li]When bat heads for red phone to call Commissioner Gordon, bash his skull in with golf club.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Grousser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Grousser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grousser)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-scare-away-a-bat/213962/22 "2003-11-19T03:54:50Z")
Ha-ha! very funny! :eek: But my son will never forgive me if I kill Bruce Wayne. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Disguise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@No\_Disguise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Disguise)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-scare-away-a-bat/213962/23 "2003-11-19T06:13:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > \*\ ***MWK** > > I suggest you read the links. > > I admit I’ve never owned a shotgun, but it seems to me that firing one inside the house would both be dangerous and require expensive repairs. \*\* Those things are annoying as hell. A while back, I delivered a pizza to a house that had one of thouse near the front door. It would constantly emit this really high pitched, barely audible (though still extremely annoying), whistle-type noise and whenever it would detect motion, it would make this sound like it was charging up and then flash an extremely bright light, and make yet another loud, weird noise. I’m sure it’s great for getting rid of bats. I wanted to get the hell out of there myself waiting at the door a few minutes. If you never hang out anywhere near where you’re going to place the device, I say go for it. But if you’re going to put it anywhere it’ll pick up you and your family’s movement, or anywhere within earshot of it, I think it just might make you insane. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Disguise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@No\_Disguise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Disguise)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-scare-away-a-bat/213962/24 "2003-11-19T06:17:08Z")
:smack: Oops. I meant to quote **t-keela**. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-scare-away-a-bat/213962/25 "2003-11-19T17:01:56Z")
**No Disguise** that is not an ultrasonic device, they do make one’s like you describe and I agree with you. They are annoying as hell. But they also make some that have no lights and cannot be heard. The one you described is for outside use. It is supposed to be annoying to drive away pests. The one I am talking about is for indoor use and works by confusing the bat’s sense of echolocation. IIRC this type has to be used indoors so that the ultrasonic waves will reflect back and forth. It’s just a small box, looks kinda like a plug in air freshener. Of course there are others…still better than shooting up the house. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-scare-away-a-bat/213962/26 "2003-11-19T17:21:45Z")
Well, hell **Grousser** you’ve named it, now I’m afraid he’s yours… I’d second the plugging the openings somehow making certain Bruce is not currently _inside_ the house. And maybe if you put the bat box far enough away from your house, Bruce and his ilk would be happy and so would you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-scare-away-a-bat/213962.md?page=1)