Forum Topic

Bats in garden

I hate them and know nothing about them but we get bats in our garden every evening at dusk. They are pretty small and seem to have triangular shaped wings. Anyone know what type of bat they might be? I'd like them not to come anymore as they give me the shivers but they're a protected species aren't they? Is there anything I can legally do to discourage them?

Penny Crocker ● 5098d6 Comments

You are welcome to them.I agree they are fsinating creatures but they cause untold damage to buildings with their urine and faeces which are extremely acidic. The sad part is that most building owners are powerless to stop-up bat ingress points as they can be deemed to be 'interfering' with the bats.

Nigel Brooks ● 5097d

They're cute.  :-)I wish we had bats in our part of Ealing.You are lucky.

Tony Colliver ● 5097d

Hi, so glad you posted this, I thought I was going mad last night (or a least my son did) Saw a bat fluttering around in my garden also.

Jaz Brown ● 5098d

someone told me once that if you see a bird flying around at night in the dark it's more than likely not to be a bird at all but a bat.

Viv Ellis ● 5098d

The pipistrelle is the most common species of bat in LondonMenthol and eucalyptus are said to work as deterrents. You have to be careful thought for, from experience, the 'pro-bat' lobby are vociferous and will not hesitate to recite chapter and verse the relevant legislation should you actually try and rid yourself of these flying urine bags.

Nigel Brooks ● 5098d

Bats are wonderful.... They eat all sorts of insects, such as mosquitos, and flit around harmlessly above head height - the likelihood of one ever bumping in to you is infinitely small.Without a bat detector (to pick up and slow down their echo location signals) it is very difficult to tell what species they are, but it is most likely to be a Pipistrelle - which is Britain's smallest bat and the most common, especially in  towns.They are protected, so there's nothing you can do about it, but stay indside and watch them flit about in the dusk and admire their incredible ability to twist and turn in an instant.We've been on a bat night at Chiswick House park, with bat detectors, and identified about 5 or 6 species. I think there's also been walks in Elthorne park.

D Fox ● 5098d