[dobbo99]

We have bats in the walls of the house I think, anyone have any advice as to steps to remove them?
We have an 1800's cottage and with wood cladding, so I guess its easy for them to find a way in. But its only been since Friday that Ive noticed.

Ive got the cat out on Batwatch, he's brought in two so far, so he's doing a decent job for no extra cash!

Ive called the council, and they are going to send someone out to see what can or cannot be done, but naturally they will be charging me.

[Delta0311]

Those sounds in the wall is just Batman coming in from a long night of ass kicking.

[DTB]

Oh dear - bat removal is a dangerous business. I don't think you can actually remove them without breaking the law *runs off to google*

http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/bats_and_the_law.html

Yes, it looks like you're stuck with them. I do know there was a man who lived near me that took it upon himself to remove some bats from his loft. He got charged & fined. Probably worse than that (for him) is that he has since been referred to exclusively as Batman. This happened about 20 years ago and he is still stuck with the name.

[nicktyler]

Get a couple more cats?

[dobsy]

I'm sure they're an endangered species, we've got one who circles our garden every night, a great sight and doesn't bother me although it doesn't live in my house unlike yours!
I read somewhere they were good for keeping the bugs away and got the impression I should count myself lucky to have them visit my garden!!!

[briers]

About the only thing we were able to do is shine an industrial strength light at the point of entry during the evening. Or if they are in a reachable space (loft *******, light that inside too.

This will discourage them from entering and they will eventually leave. Took a while though. Once they have gone, you can then plug the hole.

[IanS100]

As above, I think you're stuck with them, on the bright side you could get a big shovel & go into the guano business

[dobbo99]

biggest issue is the scuttling, fluttering, chattering noise they seem to be making! facking keeping us awake.
been away for a long weekend, and they have moved in whilst we were gone!

[doughboy]

You sure its not mice or nesting swallows or house martins?

Big time nesting season for those birds right now.

Bats don't 'scuttle' much they fly or hang upside down, thats why they usualy roost at height so they can drop into flight or fly straight back to roost.

We've got loads of bats, i love watching them swooping round early evening, eating lots of flies.

[AlanYoro35i]

Stick some dried garlic and onions up there!!

[rsmallwo]

I've got swifts in mine. Same legal perspective with those. I like watchin them too, i hate frickin flies!!

Will plug the hole when they leave and put up a nesting box

[adamroutley]

As mentioned, Swallows are rife at the moment and in the early evening they fly similar to bats.

You are legally unable to remove them, you simply have to encourage them to leave!

[ian_m]

if you stand outside half an hour before sunset where you think they are emerging from and see if they emerge

look for grease marks at the entry, crumbly poo that resembles fly bits, urine smell

go on bct web site

[dobbo99]

having just spent 4 days in bed with a prolapsed disc, Ive had a lot of time to listen! (and watch the Open)
I think its bats and a couple of mice.

Over the weekend, the cat has caught 2 more bats, so that's 4 (and I reckon there was about 7) and a couple of mice as well - he's proper chuffed with himself at the moment.
I think he caught a 3rd, but it got away and was hanging off the TV in the lounge on Sunday morning!

As a result, the noises are much reduced, so we are getting somewhere.

It would probably never bother me/us if were not for the fact its all in the wall that we lie against.

Spoke to the pest control team at the council, they were non committal naturally. Ive spoken with the BPL and BCT who were a little more helpful, but both said they cannt be moved and they should hibernate soon enough. They also said that bats are almost silent and they certainly wouldn't be intrusive, which makes me think theres something else in there.

Found the entry point, or the cat did, and theres plenty of droppings.

[doughboy]

Mice!

Get some mice traps, a dab of peanut butter and they'll be leaping on the things.

We start trapping mice in the outbuildings about now to tray and stop them moving in the house when it gets cooler.

Any rustling in the loft and we put traps just inside the loft hatches too.

Mice traps are not the crap old wooden ones anymore, clever single-hand-set black plastic ones (only 5£ for 4).

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Mice!

Get some mice traps, a dab of peanut butter and they'll be leaping on the things.

We start trapping mice in the outbuildings about now to tray and stop them moving in the house when it gets cooler.

Any rustling in the loft and we put traps just inside the loft hatches too.

Mice traps are not the crap old wooden ones anymore, clever single-hand-set black plastic ones (only 5£ for 4).

Sounds like a ruddy blood bath at your place Mike .

I'm intrigued as how cats catch bats?? Are they waiting by the entry/exit hole (I'd a thought it you be high up though?) or do the bats land in the garden??

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Sounds like a ruddy blood bath at your place Mike .

Oooh arrr. Country loyf..

Just deciding which airgun to buy for rabbit 'removals'..

Look at this bad boy... http://www.daystate.com/mk4.htm


Getting the 12 gauge out on rabbits would spoil the grass.

[dobbo99]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Sounds like a ruddy blood bath at your place Mike .

I'm intrigued as how cats catch bats?? Are they waiting by the entry/exit hole (I'd a thought it you be high up though?) or do the bats land in the garden??

yeah he found the entry point, and now he just sits there starting at the gap in the wooden cladding from about 7pm.
he can get out on to the roof through our bedroom window.

clever and evil at the same time.

[dobbo99]

So we ventured out last night, its the first time Ive been out of the house for a few days, and when we got back a 8pm there was another bat in the middle of the living room floor. I actually feel a bit sorry for them!
Jacks looking pretty please with himself.

Go through into the kitchen and it looks like the bathroom scene from Scarface, and what I initially thought was a rat lying on the floor, but it was actually just a big mouse I think.

Needless to say, we have NO more weird noises in the wall. I'm thinking now that the majority of noise wasn't from the bats at all.

He like a guardian angel at the moment, everywhere Toby goes, he goes, which is a bit odd for cat!



After a full nights sleep, its amazing how much better my back feels!

[dxb335d]

Quality pic mate!!

Glad your back is improving too.

[dobbo99]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Quality pic mate!!

Glad your back is improving too.

I'm thinking of sending Jack the cat to do the deal with the car! He's solved all my other problems!