I have a bat living on my porch rafter  

Awwww, sounds so cute. I guess you had the best porch in the neighborhood, lol!

I know most bats will migrate where it's warmer, but some will also hibernate in the cold until Spring. They do sell bat houses believe it or not, for shelter.

Yes, I do like bats,...... I'm use to them from camping, not so much around my house. They are wonderful in helping to control the mosquitoe population.

Please be careful if you do choose to pick him up since I believe they do carry the Rabies virus, which I'm sure you already know...............maybe you could try "Googling Bats" and see if there is something you could do to help the little guy, or girl, lol!

Hi oreocookie,we also have one that comes here everysummer and stays in a crack in the corner of the front patio.A piece of cement had fallen out between the bricks and its the perfect hiding place because of the small light which attracts millers/moths,which is their favorite food to munch on,hehe.I enjoy sitting outside in the summer and se it flying above me after the bugs.I let it be,like you and when the time is right it will leave for somewhere warm and hopefully come bac.They remember the place they stayed in and prefer to return to it.Ive always liked bats,even when i was young and one got into the house,i was sort of scared but became inquisitive of them.I thought they were vampires(dracula)hahaha.
Peanutjar:)

I don't have an opinion one way or the other but I think it's really cute that the bat made his home in your porch:)
It is true that they can help with the mosquitoes and I'm not sure why some people don't like them or are afraid of them.
As for winter, I'm not really sure. I'd assume that he will be able to survive in your porch the same way the he would be able to survive in another place he made its home:)

I would love to have some bats around here to help take cars of mosquitoes that are not eaten by the fish in my container ponds. I have seen plans on how to make bat houses and it does not look hard, just have a couple of rough cut boars about an inch apart with sides and a roof. They like to be crowded so it does not have to be large to have several of them. Another thing is to have a place for them to drink water easily.

Nooooooo I dont like bats at all. I think there really creepy. Has it ever tried to come after you? thats what I would be afraid of. Do be careful!

In feng shui, bats are supposed to be very lucky and potent money drawers to a home that displays their picture. So consider yourself doubly lucky because you have them in the flesh! I agree with you, they do look intriguing in a Jack Palance-kind of way. When we lived in Lagos (Nigeria, West Africa), they would be asleep hanging down from the branches of a huge tree(it may have been an acacia) in the daytime, and as soon as the sun sets, they are off flapping and squeaking into the night. One flew into the bathroom window once, during the day, and of course, my son (then 18 months) and I were scared and locked the door. My then-husband shooed it to cower in one corner of the bathtub, but he was scared too. He called in the yardman who simply scooped it up. He told us that he will roast it in the fire and it will make a good supper for him. They are fruit bats and he wasn't afraid, but I guess conditioning--all those Dracula and vampire bat movies--made that poor scared thing a bigger scare for us!

That's awesome! Maybe you could put up a box for him for the winter? That should be pretty easy to make. We had someone selling them at a craft fair not too long ago. It was really interesting design!

I am not into bats, and I do not think they live up here all year round =-- gets rather cold in winter, minus 40 and all that. I do think you have to be careful though, rabies. I know you probably think all animals are nice cute substitute for children but bats are wild animals and may bite you. You have to be careful because such intimate contact as petting him or her may prevent him or her from finding a mate since your human scent will be on him. They could do a better job of getting rid of the insects in the neighborhood and not just concentrate on your problem.

I'm sure he will be safe for the winter I'm not afarid of them