• This topic has 16 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 13 years ago by tron.
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  • Bats – anyone had them?
  • carbon337
    Free Member

    In their house – turns out I have some in my flat room extension – the entrance hole is a tiny gap in the board where the gutter goes onto and the wall and is above the window that opens.

    Im not really too fussed about them being there but the room they are above is the one we were about to decorate as our first childs nursery.

    I dont think I can block hole up. Would you use this room as a nursery – should i just MTFU and ignore them?

    Baby is due in Jan so prob wont have window open in Winter.

    tragically1969
    Free Member

    Depending on what species they are you probably cant even disturb them in any way even if you wanted too, protected and all that…

    j_me
    Free Member

    Just ignore them FFS. We had 100s of bats in our old house, didn't do any harm…..except when we left the covers off of the water tank and we ended up with several rotting bats in there.
    My guess is that blocking up the hole would actually be illegal (not to mention a tad cruel)

    And before anyone starts about Rabies – No it wont be that kind of bat !

    boxelder
    Full Member

    What's to worry about?

    If wanting rid, call the local bat conservation folk, but you may find they are about to mate and therefore can't be disturbed. They're a protected species, so you aren't immune from prosecution if you harm them.

    br
    Free Member

    Whatever you do, don't tell the authorities…

    Northwind
    Full Member

    "Whatever you do, don't tell the authorities…"

    This. I've lived with bats and they were no bother while they were in the attic and eaves but a pain in the arse when they got in the house, they're really very cool to watch but they're still flying mice- and pulling the curtains open in the morning only to find there was half a dozen of the little feckers roosting on the curtain rail that end up bombing around your bedroom crapping everywhere was almost funny the first time but got old quite fast. If I found nests in this house, they would just quietly go away faster than you could say "but they're protected"

    jon1973
    Free Member

    you could make a bat porn film.

    lister
    Full Member

    The only real problem I've seen with bats in roof spaces is a serious build up of poo causing the ceiling to cave in!
    I've lived in various field centres that had bats and they aren't a problem, net curtains over the window to the nursery will stop them getting in by mistake.
    Ask your local bat conservation people what to do, and find out when you can go in and put a bit of tarp down where they poo so you can remove it every year or so…good compost that!
    Your little one is a lucky kids growing up with bats. We've got house sparrow and swifts under the facia board in out house and the kids are loving them this year, really taking an interest. Maybe in the future you could put a webcam on the entrance for them to watch?

    epicyclo
    Full Member

    Put an energy efficient light in your roof space and leave it burning. Works for me.

    carbon337
    Free Member

    I cant get into the space thats the problem – just a flat roof extension.

    May try a webcam up there actually.

    We have been watching them at night – i think there is about 6 of them. Im concerned about the poo and urine situation bringing down roof or something daft on a newborn baby.

    imp999
    Free Member

    "What's that noise?"
    "Back-up!"

    bear-uk
    Free Member

    We had them years ago. Pipastrell or something like that, nursery colony apparently. Had some local chap round with a box that picked up there squeaking. Eventually they left and I fitted UPVC fascia's and plugged the hole up. Ended up with bluebottles every summer for years after, I think it was the poo all over the loft.

    Drac
    Full Member

    Singletrack Dave can answer this one he is the Batman.

    leebaxter
    Free Member

    Bats travel from roost to roost. you could block the hole when their not there, dont block it in the winter when theyh are hibernating

    Dave
    Free Member

    Best bet is ring Bat Conservation Trust, someone will visit and offer help/advice.
    http://www.bats.org.uk/

    Blocking a roost entrance at anytime of the year is illegal whatever the species. It's also unnecessary given the actions that can be taken to minimise any impact you may notice.

    Whereabouts are you? Let me know and I may be able to put you in contact with someone.

    Drac
    Full Member

    He's in North Northumbreland Dave.

    tron
    Free Member

    Natural England pay contractors to run bat hotlines which you can ring with any concerns about bat roosts.

    Have a look at this PDF for you local number:
    http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/batadvice_tcm6-4078.pdf

    They will talk you through the ins and outs of having bats in your building. If you're still not happy, they liaise with volunteer bat wardens, who will come and do a survey, and explain the options for excluding bats. Generally exclusion is done by consultants and will cost you money.

    As a rule, there aren't health implications and they don't bring down ceilings. Bats move roosts regularly and it's likely that the roost is only be occupied for a small proportion of the year. It's possible that they're actually roosting behind the fascia boards, rather than in the roof space.

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