Bats in the belfry

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lowdrag

Original Poster:

12,952 posts

215 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
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Well, not a belfry, nor a standard type of house since there is no loft (we have a mezzanine) but we are invaded by the little critters, and the worst of it is that they have found their way in to the roof but worse into the house and their dropping are to be found here and there. Nor very pleasant. Now We've tried keeping them out but they are so tiny that the slightest crack suffices, so we rang our local county council here in France. No, we can't exterminate since they are protected, but their advice is simply to mastic everywhere now winter is coming and shut the blighters in completely. Now where I ask you, is the logic in permitting them die of hunger and thirst but not killing them humanely? I've tried speaking to a few exterminators on the quiet but they won't, even on the black, do the job since they risk severe penalties, so the mastic it is. I'm not at ease with it, but then I don't want the house full of st neither.

Jasandjules

70,027 posts

231 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
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Just live and let live. They are great to watch - we used to sit out in our garden come dusk and watch them all leave...

ali_kat

32,000 posts

223 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
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frown

In the roof is fine, but in the house... Not good!

Do the people you have spoken with understand fully they are in the living area of the house? There are ways of moving them iirc, but it has to be done at the right time of year. I can't remember when that is tho, sorry!

Hooli

32,278 posts

202 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
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Google found this - http://www.expatforum.com/expats/le-bistro/153186-... which suggests asking your local vet as you can normally get them moved.

Mobile Chicane

20,909 posts

214 months

Friday 20th September 2013
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I think you could leave them be for the winter. They'll be hibernating, so less active. Mastic in Spring once they've left.

Bat boxes in surrounding trees may help tempt them away in future. (I have one.) These need to be at least 20 feet up, and south-facing.

Hooli

32,278 posts

202 months

Friday 20th September 2013
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Why so high? I've seen bat boxes about 5ft up before, would they have been a waste of time?

Mobile Chicane

20,909 posts

214 months

Saturday 21st September 2013
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Hooli said:
Why so high? I've seen bat boxes about 5ft up before, would they have been a waste of time?
Pretty much, though birds might use them.