My parents have bats in their airing cupboard

sarahandme

Pollycat said:

sarahandme said:

Pollycat said:

sarahandme said:

So can I ask what would you have done? We asked her but she don't want to move out, she wants the bats gone is her response. 

My Mother is not bloody minded.

We would have had a reasonable conversation about the pros and cons of her staying and - even if it meant some inconvenience with sleeping arrangements - she would have agreed that the only sensible approach would be for her to move temporarily.

And Dad would have come too.

Before even having that conversation, I would have Googled and would therefore be fully aware of protection of bats (I was somewhat aware because of the Coronation Street storyline).

I would have explained that it simply wasn't possible to move the bats.

I would have explained that it was against the law to try to make the bats go away by various means.

She would have understood.

She would have packed a bag and be ready to go.

She would have understood that it's not as simple as her wanting 'the bats gone'.

FTR, my Mum is 88.

happyandcontented said:

Is she aware that you could be prosecuted?

I would - if necessary - have used this reasoning on my own Mum, although I think she would have had enough sense to understand what I was saying anyway so it probably wouldn't have been necessary.

So - sarahandme - that's what I would have done.

Mum would be sat on my sofa with a cup of tea safe in the knowledge that she can use the bathroom with fear of bats and safe in the knowledge that neither I nor my husband hadn't endangered a protected species and weren't likely to get into trouble for our actions.

It's really not that hard when you think about it.

Mums not bloody minded, she just didnt want bats in her home, simple as that. 

I didn't say your Mum was bloody minded.

I said my Mum wasn't bloody minded.

My Mum would want the bats gone too.

Anyone would want bats in their house gone.

You asked what I would have done.

I've explained what I would have done.

I've also explained what my Mum would have done too.

Our actions would have been very different to those of you, your husband and your Mum.

Your Mum is making things difficult for herself.And probably making things difficult for her husband too.

She's made things difficult for you and your husband.

You and your husband have made things difficult for yourselves by your actions.

You should all be worried.

I don't know what to say, I'm speechless by that remark. My parents are decent people, its like mum is being blamed she has bats in her bathroom.
She was white as a sheet dad said when she came to him shaking like a leaf, this isn't healthy for a 86 year old. It could have killed her. 
Now its like we are all meant to feel guilty bats invaded her home. I frankly don't know what to say anymore. They and us are law abiding citizens. Not like some people who commit pety crimes etc. This is awful. 

sarahandme

Just for the record there has been no bats found now for 2 days,  so even if the council or bat organisation come round there will be nothing to see.  We even hoovered up the bat droppings as it was stinking. So I think keeping the light on as someone suggested, thank you to that person, and the plug in rodent devices seems to have worked so far. Thanks to you guys who suggested those. 

Pollycat

sarahandme said:

I would - if necessary - have used this reasoning on my own Mum, although I think she would have had enough sense to understand what I was saying anyway so it 

I don't know what to say, I'm speechless by that remark. My parents are decent people, its like mum is being blamed she has bats in her bathroom.
She was white as a sheet dad said when she came to him shaking like a leaf, this isn't healthy for a 86 year old. It could have killed her. 
Now its like we are all meant to feel guilty bats invaded her home. I frankly don't know what to say anymore. They and us are law abiding citizens. Not like some people who commit pety crimes etc. This is awful. 

I don't believe I've ever said that you, your husband, your Mum or your Dad are not decent people.
I don't believe I've ever said your Mum was at fault for having bats in her airing cupboard.
She has survived the shock of finding them.
She would probably be much less stressed if she had accepted your offer to move in with you.
For some reason, she chose not to.

You have - regardless of the circumstances -  interfered with a protected species.
A species that carries a jail term or unlimited fine if not treated correctly.
This is despite being warned that you are doing so.
It may be up to the authorities to decide if you are on a par with petty criminals or not.
You have broken the law.

gizmo111

Pollycat said:

sarahandme said:

I would - if necessary - have used this reasoning on my own Mum, although I think she would have had enough sense to understand what I was saying anyway so it 

I don't know what to say, I'm speechless by that remark. My parents are decent people, its like mum is being blamed she has bats in her bathroom.
She was white as a sheet dad said when she came to him shaking like a leaf, this isn't healthy for a 86 year old. It could have killed her. 
Now its like we are all meant to feel guilty bats invaded her home. I frankly don't know what to say anymore. They and us are law abiding citizens. Not like some people who commit pety crimes etc. This is awful. 

I don't believe I've ever said that you, your husband, your Mum or your Dad are not decent people.
I don't believe I've ever said your Mum was at fault for having bats in her airing cupboard.
She has survived the shock of finding them.
She would probably be much less stressed if she had accepted your offer to move in with you.
For some reason, she chose not to.

You have - regardless of the circumstances -  interfered with a protected species.
A species that carries a jail term or unlimited fine if not treated correctly.
This is despite being warned that you are doing so.
It may be up to the authorities to decide if you are on a par with petty criminals or not.
You have broken the law.

Shame they didn't know about this crime in Wuhan - we may all have been in a safer place...…..

To the OP - I would have done exactly the same, protected and supported my parents over some Bats …….. or any other animal they were terrified of.

Kim_kim

OP - I would leave the lights on in the bathroom & airing cupboard 24/7 until after this is all sorted.  Included blocking up the entry point.  

Pollycat

gizmo111 said:

Shame they didn't know about this crime in Wuhan - we may all have been in a safer place...…..

I don't believe it's a crime in Wuhan...

sarahandme

gizmo111 said:

Pollycat said:

sarahandme said:

I would - if necessary - have used this reasoning on my own Mum, although I think she would have had enough sense to understand what I was saying anyway so it 

I don't know what to say, I'm speechless by that remark. My parents are decent people, its like mum is being blamed she has bats in her bathroom.
She was white as a sheet dad said when she came to him shaking like a leaf, this isn't healthy for a 86 year old. It could have killed her. 
Now its like we are all meant to feel guilty bats invaded her home. I frankly don't know what to say anymore. They and us are law abiding citizens. Not like some people who commit pety crimes etc. This is awful. 

I don't believe I've ever said that you, your husband, your Mum or your Dad are not decent people.
I don't believe I've ever said your Mum was at fault for having bats in her airing cupboard.
She has survived the shock of finding them.
She would probably be much less stressed if she had accepted your offer to move in with you.
For some reason, she chose not to.

You have - regardless of the circumstances -  interfered with a protected species.
A species that carries a jail term or unlimited fine if not treated correctly.
This is despite being warned that you are doing so.
It may be up to the authorities to decide if you are on a par with petty criminals or not.
You have broken the law.

Shame they didn't know about this crime in Wuhan - we may all have been in a safer place...…..

To the OP - I would have done exactly the same, protected and supported my parents over some Bats …….. or any other animal they were terrified of.

You have a point there. Why are bats protected in this country but not other countries? They eat bats in some countries don't they? If the protection law is not worldwide its a futile law in this country.
Its a bit like the UK has to keep pollution levels to a certain level, yet other countries don't follow, so what we do is futile. 

sarahandme

Kim_kim said:

OP - I would leave the lights on in the bathroom & airing cupboard 24/7 until after this is all sorted.  Included blocking up the entry point.  

Thanks Kim.  I think we have successfully blocked the entry point as no more has been found or seen since Thursday. I can't begin to tell you how relieved mum is, well all of us are relieved now. 
I truely hope we have cracked it. 

peachyprice

sarahandme said:

gizmo111 said:

Pollycat said:

sarahandme said:

I would - if necessary - have used this reasoning on my own Mum, although I think she would have had enough sense to understand what I was saying anyway so it 

I don't know what to say, I'm speechless by that remark. My parents are decent people, its like mum is being blamed she has bats in her bathroom.
She was white as a sheet dad said when she came to him shaking like a leaf, this isn't healthy for a 86 year old. It could have killed her. 
Now its like we are all meant to feel guilty bats invaded her home. I frankly don't know what to say anymore. They and us are law abiding citizens. Not like some people who commit pety crimes etc. This is awful. 

I don't believe I've ever said that you, your husband, your Mum or your Dad are not decent people.
I don't believe I've ever said your Mum was at fault for having bats in her airing cupboard.
She has survived the shock of finding them.
She would probably be much less stressed if she had accepted your offer to move in with you.
For some reason, she chose not to.

You have - regardless of the circumstances -  interfered with a protected species.
A species that carries a jail term or unlimited fine if not treated correctly.
This is despite being warned that you are doing so.
It may be up to the authorities to decide if you are on a par with petty criminals or not.
You have broken the law.

Shame they didn't know about this crime in Wuhan - we may all have been in a safer place...…..

To the OP - I would have done exactly the same, protected and supported my parents over some Bats …….. or any other animal they were terrified of.

You have a point there. Why are bats protected in this country but not other countries? They eat bats in some countries don't they? If the protection law is not worldwide its a futile law in this country.
Its a bit like the UK has to keep pollution levels to a certain level, yet other countries don't follow, so what we do is futile. 

Seriously, can anybody really be this thick?  Confirmation that this whole thread is nothing but a wind up. 

Pollycat

sarahandme said:

You have a point there. Why are bats protected in this country but not other countries? They eat bats in some countries don't they? If the protection law is not worldwide its a futile law in this country.
Its a bit like the UK has to keep pollution levels to a certain level, yet other countries don't follow, so what we do is futile. 

That poster has no point at all.

Each country can set their own rules on animal welfare. It's not a 'futile law' at all.

The country you live in has chosen to protect bats.

Living in China is an option if you do not agree with UK laws.