So you've got rats in your roof space" says I, then the client says,
" Yes and there are bats up there as well".
Thinks, this is going to be a good day,
"Are you sure ", I ask.
"Oh yes you can see them flying out at dusk, and they came back just before dawn", and so on and so on.
So this is why I have included bats on the site because there are a lot of restrictions as to when you can go up into the roof-space and also as to the treatment you can use. Like one Pest Controller put Tak boards in the roof-space and then either didn't go back, or forgot to go back, then a month or so later somebody like an electrician went up there and found four Tak boards three of which had a dead bat on them and the fourth board had a live bat on it but it was so glued up that the vet had to put the animal to sleep. So do as it says below and if you are in doubt RING THE NUMBER 0845 1300 228.
There are eighteen species of bat in England, with nine of those species also found in Ireland. All these species of bat are small, nocturnal and feed exclusively on insects. They breed slowly, having only a single offspring every one to two years.
Bats are not considered pests as they do not gnaw, chew, scratch or build nests and therefore do not damage properties. Their droppings do not pose a health hazard as they do not carry the dangerous bacteria associated with rodent droppings.
The loss of natural roosts, such as hollow trees, has meant that most species of bat have become increasingly reliant on buildings as roost sites and are therefore very vulnerable to disturbance and pesticides used within the roof void.
Due to the marked decline of bats over the past few decades, it has become necessary to protect bats and their roost sites by law. If any evidence of bats using a roof void is found such as insect wings, dark droppings scattered throughout or in piles under the central beam, or droppings accumulating on windows or pathways outside the house even if bats are not in current occupation, free advice should be sought from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 02890 395 264 before proceeding with works. In England, the Bat Conservation Trust should be contacted on 0845 1300 228. Advice and support can also be given on any issues or concerns you may have with the bats.
Typically, it is recommended that any only bat friendly chemicals in an aqueous solution are applied by painting or spray application for any timber treatment required. This should be carried out at a suitable time of year when the bats are not in occupation. It is important that a free survey is carried out by the statutory nature conservation organisation in your area before works proceed as bats use different roosts sites throughout the year and may conceal themselves in crevices within the roof void. Fly paper must not be used in roof voids with bats. For rodent control, spring and sticky traps must not be used, and packeted bait should be placed within tubes on the floor of the roof void during the autumn or spring months instead, to avoid disturbing breeding or hibernating bats.
For further advice please see http://www.bats.org.uk
