My parents have bats in their airing cupboard

sarahandme

Motormad20 said:

I sympathise with your mum. You should go out around dusk and watch where they are coming from,they will fly off in the same pattern every night. I struggle to understand why they are protected as they are like a plague where we live,we had them in our garage nesting between the cavity walls,I counted 500 one night before I got fed up. I always wondered what the strange smell was in the garage and the cars were covered in !!!!!! and droppings,thankfully they seem to have found another roosting spot now.

Thanks. I cant think for the life of me why they are protected as they can give you rabbies. And surely its not right how they can invade your home, and take over. We should be allowed to get rid of them how we see fit. We have rang the council but they dont seem in a hurry so I dont know what else to do. We are waiting for an email from the bat organisation. Hopefully they can help. 

Motormad20

I’ve just gone outside to have a watch again as we had them in the roof of the house last year but thankfully there only seemed to be a small number.

Barny1979

sarahandme said:

Barny1979 said:

If you're so concerned, can she not stay at your home for a few days?

Well we only have a 2 bedroom house. Which both are already occupied. Of course I'm concerned its my mother. Wouldn't you be? 

I would be, but I'd be trying to accommodate them in some way, not moan about the Council on a Forum.

elsien

sarahandme said:

Mojisola said:

Have you phoned the number local to you?

www.bats.org.uk/advice/help-ive-found-a-bat/call-the-national-bat-helpline

No you don't get a local number, its a central number to the organisation. I cant find a local number. I rang our local council but they cant come out until 4th July. 
But how can mum not use her bathroom until then? 

Quite easily. You have a separate toilet and a kitchen sink.
Your mum is of the generation that grew up with outside loos. Many older people who can't get adaptations as they lose their mobility have to have a strip wash at the sink.
It's for less than two weeks. She can manage if she has to, if she can't bring herself to use the bathroom. That may sound unsympathetic but with my own 82 year old parent it's what I'd be saying.

sarahandme

Barny1979 said:

sarahandme said:

Barny1979 said:

If you're so concerned, can she not stay at your home for a few days?

Well we only have a 2 bedroom house. Which both are already occupied. Of course I'm concerned its my mother. Wouldn't you be? 

I would be, but I'd be trying to accommodate them in some way, not moan about the Council on a Forum.

But then theres dad wheres he going to sleep, we cant leave him on his own. I wasen't moaning at the council, but was just disappointed at their lack of speed to get to us, and was looking for alternatives. I am hoping this bat organisation will help soon.
They have lived in that house for 50 years and never had bats, so I dont know why they are starting now. 

sheramber

The bats' bodies are  tiny. They weigh the same as a 20p piece. They fly into the space  under our roof tiles without hesitation.
Over the years we have had one flying around the house in the evening and found one on the doormat inside he front door when we came home one afternoon.
Other than that they do not bother us. They are only there for a  few weeks to raise their  young then disappear until the next year.

theoretica

Bats don't like light much - might be worth trying leaving the bathroom light on and the airing cupboard door open.

sarahandme

theoretica said:

Bats don't like light much - might be worth trying leaving the bathroom light on and the airing cupboard door open.

Thanks, I was wondering that myself. 
Or put a bright light in the airing cupboard which is where most of them seemed to be getting into the inside of the property. 
See thats the interesting thing, getting into a loft space is one thing, but then to get actually inside is another thing another isn't it?

onwards&upwards

sarahandme said:

Motormad20 said:

I sympathise with your mum. You should go out around dusk and watch where they are coming from,they will fly off in the same pattern every night. I struggle to understand why they are protected as they are like a plague where we live,we had them in our garage nesting between the cavity walls,I counted 500 one night before I got fed up. I always wondered what the strange smell was in the garage and the cars were covered in !!!!!! and droppings,thankfully they seem to have found another roosting spot now.

Thanks. I cant think for the life of me why they are protected as they can give you rabbies. And surely its not right how they can invade your home, and take over. We should be allowed to get rid of them how we see fit. We have rang the council but they dont seem in a hurry so I dont know what else to do. We are waiting for an email from the bat organisation. Hopefully they can help. 

They are protected because we have put them in danger by building loads of houses, roads and infrastructure which has destroyed the places they used to live.  This is why they come into houses sometimes, a lack of better options! 

They haven't invaded, and they aren't taking over the house.  They are tiny living creatures who have no concept of malice or vindictiveness and are just unlucky. 

Why don't you swap houses with your parents until the bats are gone?  Or try to reassure your mum and help her overcome the fear rather than feeding it?

Ditzy_Mitzy

onwards&upwards said:

sarahandme said:

Motormad20 said:

I sympathise with your mum. You should go out around dusk and watch where they are coming from,they will fly off in the same pattern every night. I struggle to understand why they are protected as they are like a plague where we live,we had them in our garage nesting between the cavity walls,I counted 500 one night before I got fed up. I always wondered what the strange smell was in the garage and the cars were covered in !!!!!! and droppings,thankfully they seem to have found another roosting spot now.

Thanks. I cant think for the life of me why they are protected as they can give you rabbies. And surely its not right how they can invade your home, and take over. We should be allowed to get rid of them how we see fit. We have rang the council but they dont seem in a hurry so I dont know what else to do. We are waiting for an email from the bat organisation. Hopefully they can help. 

They are protected because we have put them in danger by building loads of houses, roads and infrastructure which has destroyed the places they used to live.  This is why they come into houses sometimes, a lack of better options! 

They haven't invaded, and they aren't taking over the house.  They are tiny living creatures who have no concept of malice or vindictiveness and are just unlucky. 

Why don't you swap houses with your parents until the bats are gone?  Or try to reassure your mum and help her overcome the fear rather than feeding it?

I agree - this is veering into 'blaming the bats' territory.  Tree, house, whatever, it's all the same to them and they have no concept of private property!  I still don't understand what's wrong with the simplest course of action: have a proper hunt round the house, go up in the loft, open all the cupboards and turn them out etc.  Move any bats that are found to somewhere safe and secure until collection can be arranged.  If no bats turn up then all is well.  Whilst doing this, look for evidence of bat entry points and take appropriate action to stop them up.  
It's a private residence, ultimately, meaning it's the occupants' responsibility to sort it out.  You can't expect the council, when they do turn up, to spring clean top to bottom, look for holes and repair them.