Many of the bat species in Ireland are dependent upon houses for their survival. Some species are found more often in houses than in any natural sites! It is likely that many Irish homes are nostalgically remembered by both people and bats. Bats are often loyal to the same house for generations. For some people, the proximity of some of Irelands native fauna may lead to unease.
But this isn't a cause for concern because......

Bats don't chew electrical cables, food or people for that matter! In fact, they don't do much chewing of anything other than their own food, which they are very adept at collecting for themselves. They don't need to tunnel out a nesting place. They simply tuck in to the gaps between timbers or under tiles or slates. Some may be seen in attics but most live above attics or in the fascia board surrounding the eaves of a house.

Bats aren't mice (or rats) and don't have such "baby booms" - they have one baby each year in summer. Bats belong to an order of mammals (the only flying ones - Chiroptera) that dates back over 50 million years.

 

Irelands bats are incurable insect-eaters! Try as you might, you won't succeed in changing their diet to blood or anything else. They insist on eating thousands of midges, mosquitoes, moths and other small bugs. They even play a major role in keeping down the numbers of insect pests which could destroy our crops.

Bats are not blind! Hence, they will not get caught in your hair - they will just lodge in your attic! They navigate at night using a "sonar" which is mostly above our hearing range. This "ultrasound" is what allows them to see in complete darkness! Now who is the blind one? They have been setting speed traps for insects for millions of years before the Police thought of it.

Oh Dear! Odours!

In some circumstamces, large bat roosts can become malodorous. Normally, this is a problem that arises in hot weather with bat droppings that have been damp. The removal of the droppings is the only long-term solution (even were the bats to be evicted, the droppings would remain smelly until they are taken away). "Neutrodol" is the one product that deals very well with household smells. In the gel form, it can be placed near the site within the living space where the smell is strongest. It is available from hardware stores and even many supermarkets.

What do you do when bats are coming into the living space?

Even the greatest lovers of nature need a bit of breathing space away form our fellow creatures. Likewise, bats don't fancy flying asound sitting rooms (or bedrooms). Stray bats should be escorted out to the great outdoors (in a tea-cloth or towel etc.) if they settle somewhere to rest. To make sure that their friends stay out also, windows near the bat roost entrances should be kept closed from sunset until after sunrise. Holes around water pipes and electrical cables should be sealed with a temporary block (like a stuffed sock or tissue - well wedged into the hole.) if they are there. Water tanks should be covered to prevent bats from falling in! If there is a local "spider rescuer" or "animal Samaritan", they will usually help out with bat gatecrashers or know of someone with a degree of bat knowldge.

 

Attics

Work on areas of the house where bats are roosting should only be carried out when bats are not present. Certainly, summer roosts or hibernations sites should never be disturbed,

For advice call Duchas or Bat Groups at:

01 834 7134
(batline@eircom.net)
0217339247
091294435

 

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