Oh, I need patience and support. My mominlaw called from 600 miles away. She was totally hysterical about a bat in the house. Now, it has happened before when Dad was alive and they never called the exterminator to resolve the issues. She now says she cannot sleep in the house and is going to get an apartment today. (totally irrational but not much I can do but try and talk to her.)

She wants to sleep in the car in this 90 degree weather. Cannot get her to go to a hotel or call a relative. This is why I wanted her to move here to be near her only!!! child. Just what can we do from 12 hours away.

Oh, well, rant over. I ended up telling her she was a strong and competent woman and would make the right decision for today. Then told her son to call her.

How frustrating! Do you know anyone in her area that you can call that would be able to calm her and help direct her toward finding a solution (ie call an exterminator!)? Hopefully, she will listen to her son, though sometimes I think I can talk to my MIL easier than DH. lol

Good luck!

This is a tough situation. Many times if you open the top sash of a window the bat will often find its own way out. We have had a bat in the house 3 times. One time we caught it in a towel and put it outside, another time it was a victim to one of my cats. Cat jumped straight up 6 feet and brought it down. Poor bat did not survive. 3rd time we again caught it in a towel after trying the window thing. It did fly toward the window but landed on the curtains and just sat there so we did the towel thing again. Does she have any neighbors she can call on for help?

In addition to all this, she needs to find out how it got in the house and try to be sure it doesn't happen again.

I like what you told her. Poor thing sounds really scared. Hard to reason with someone when they are like that though.
Hope it gets resolved !

Is there a relaltive or friend who lives nearby her who can be there to help her with the situation? Maybe you or your hubby can contact them and tell them what is happening.
Then someone needs to take care of the bats and find out how they are getting in.

Thanks everyone. She did call an exterminator and I checked the web for info. Bad time of year to try and get rid of them. I think they are in the eaves and getting in thru the attic. I hears skittering while I was sleeping up there.

So she needs to stuff a towel under the door to the upstairs. But right now she needs to calm down a little. Her son will need to call her several times. At least her neighbor helped in the middle of the night.

If she was here, this would be resolved quickly and easily. But 600 miles away is kind of difficult. My husband almost killed himself trying to help and take care of his father during his last two months.

my girl friend near Houston called the police for a small bat in her atrium. turned out it had Rabies and her cat had played with it.

Oh, well, rant over. I ended up telling her she was a strong and competent woman and would make the right decision for today. Then told her son to call her.[/quote]


You made the right decision.

Sounds like you did the right thing.