Just back from two weeks' hols. Haven't seen them myself yet, but my cat sitter says I have bats inside above the door of the garage- where the cat lives.
a) is this a good thing? Will we not disturb them as we go in and out? If they fall off- which I'm told they have a couple of times- will the cat eat them?
b) are we allowed to go about our normal business or does that count as disturbing them?
c) if we put up bat boxes outside are they likely to flit of their own accord?
When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head!
Hiya AQ
While you wait for a proper answer i've found this www.bats.org.uk/.../help.html
good luck
Regards Alan
My photos are here and here
HI AQ,
I can't help you but I know a lady who can - Sarum Bat on the forum is a bat warden and very expert in these matters. I hope she sees this thread.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
You may find this useful to read until someone comes along to answer your question:)
www.bats.org.uk/publications_download.php/229/Living_with_bats_update_Aug_08.pdf
Sue
Hi
Is there a local bat group you can contact.
You will need the bats identifying as they could be a rare species.
If you aren't using the garage for the car I wouldn't disturb them until you found advice.
As far as the cat goes the bats will be aware and most bats will move on for the winter.
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Hello Aberdeenshire Quine,
I have just been directed to your thread by Sparrow and I hope I can help.
The best advice I can give is that you contact Batline at the Bat Conservation Trust and they will offer advice over the phone or send a warden, if there is one local to you, to have a look. The Bat Conservation Trust website is the one suggested by doggie www.bats.org.uk
The bats will be summer visitors and are likely to move on soon to find somewhere to hibernate until next spring.
They probably won't mind you walking past them as they will huddle up together and hide but the cat is a real problem. Many bats are injured or killed by cats. A swipe from a paw can easily break a bone and a bite will invariably kill due to all the bacteria on cat's teeth. I haven't heard of a cat actually eating a bat but you never know. I am surprised bats would roost in close proximity to a cat in the first place though so maybe the cat isn't interested.
You can go about your normal business as long as you don't interfere with the roost, such as take flash photography, shine lights, touch the bats etc, which I am sure you would not do anyway. If you find a bat on the floor, to keep it safe from the cat, you can pick it up and put it back but we advise that you should wear gloves to do so.
Bat boxes are not likely to help at the moment but it would be a good idea to put some up and hopefully if the bats come back next year they might use the boxes instead of your garage.
I am about to go out but will be back in a few hours so if you want any more help please post again and I will check the thread as soon as I get back.
Good luck with your summer visitors.
SB
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/
We've looked and looked and can't see any, dark, daylight or dusk. But I found a dead one on the ground in the flower bed next to the door, so there's definitely something going on:(
I'll get my local bat guy to come and help. He did a check for us before we built the flippon' garage because I was worried about disturbing them in the trees.
I've got one going nuts outside my window right now.
Lol! Going nuts sounds about right! A pipistrelle probably in that case. Your bat guy will be able to tell you. Can you possibly keep the dead one for him to see?
I do hope you manage to resolve the problem. Good luck.
ah. I dropped him in the compost....
If your bat guy is'nt able to help I know a great bat 'quine' in the Aberdeenshire area pm me if you'd like any more help.
Really love bats + although we get them through the garden would love to have them roost here in the summer.
Was up your way early Aug + helped with a bat survey there, which was brilliant. Hoping to get more envolved in bats here!!
'In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks' John Muir.
Excuse wobbily dyslexic spelling!
hI AQ
hope all works out OK
Its possible the bats have been disturbed from nearby and looking for another roost.
Has a neighbour had any roofwork done or a building been demolished
I'm sure your bat man will help
Bat chap not round yet, but we think they were on top of the door, rather than inside.
Would the bat quine be Izzy, by any chance?