Your garden may be home to many creatures, bats included. These winged nocturnal species are not easy to spot. However, if you know the signs, and it is likely that they might choose your garden to nest in, you will notice down the line. If you begin to suspect a bat colony in close proximity, it is natural to feel concerned and wonder what to do. There is no set answer on how to approach nesting bats, but the information below may be useful, nonetheless.
Signs That You May Have Nesting Bats
It is safe to assume that if you are reading this article, you have raised suspicions about bats living in your garden. There are some common signs that may confirm those suspicions, and these are listed below.
- Droppings! Bat droppings don’t stick around for long. Unlike dogs, for instance, bats’ fecal matter crumbles away in a matter of days through weather pressure, so is better able to go under the radar for longer. If you do spot it, it will look much like mouse droppings, so small, round, brown, and grey.
- Their noises. Bats are not usually audible to human ears but that isn’t to say we can’t hear them at all. They chitter and the sound of their wings flapping is quite distinct.
- You’ve seen them. Bats are crepuscular, which means that they tend to fly around at dusk and dawn, aka the twilight, hours so unless you’ve been standing in the garden around this time, it is rare to spot one. They are more likely to fly in and out of turrets, and around trees, and may dive low to catch insects to eat.
If you have noticed any of these red flags, it is natural to think about what your options are.
Verify the Bat Presence
The first call to action will be verifying the bat’s presence. Even if you have seen them flying in and out or noticed a consistent presence in the outdoor space, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a bat family has taken up residence. There are professional options that provide bat surveys to assess the lengths of details, such as this option from Bat Surveys. Bat Surveys are an expert service that offers a multi-element process in establishing the facts from the first quote until the last piece of advice. They also have a ton of information about what to expect from your survey, and what to do if you notice a bat problem at home.
Educate Yourself
Bats are protected in the UK owing to the threat of extinction. These animals are less common than they used to be and the number that exists currently is far fewer than in previous years. So, the law protects them, which means if you disturb a nest by removing it or destroying it, you may just face a legal penalty. Learning about what species is present, how protected its status is, and what you are legally allowed to do in terms of actions to take, is the most viable route forward. Without knowledge, you risk facing jail time or a large fine and unwittingly destroying a species.
Clear Up Droppings
Bat droppings are very similar to other ground-bound rodents. They are small but given the number of bats that make their home together, it can become an issue rather quickly. It is not something that you want your children picking up or touching, as it may carry harmful toxins and is generally poor hygiene. So, if you are noticing concentrated areas of bat droppings, clean them up to keep everything safe and reduce the risk of disease exposure.
Protect Them
Protecting bats is not difficult. It should not take up too much of your time. Considering they are extremely unlikely to bother you or interfere with your life, and their protected status, one course of action to take (if you get them in your garden), is to just keep them safe and nurture them until they decide to move on. There are several ways to do this.
- Remove Artificial Lighting: Bats like darkness, and low-light environments. Artificial light deters them from fulfilling their natural hunting activities and may lead to starvation or distress.
- Build a Bat Box: A bat box, much like a birdbox, is a box for bats to live in. This might keep them out of your attic, and it also provides a safe dwelling for rest to keep them out of harm’s way. You can garnish it with bat tasty treats and provide a water source too.
- Create a Water Source: Bats need to drink, just like any other animal, but they are not always that capable of finding a water source, especially if they have taken up residence far away from any natural supplies. You can fix this by installing a water feature or pond installation. It doesn’t have to be imposing, just something where the bats can quench their thirst.
- Keep Cats Away: Cats are natural predators of bats. They are also, unfortunately, crepuscular. These and kill them. If this can be avoided, it should be. You can do this by keeping cats inside during the bat’s most active hours (twilight), especially in mid-summer as bats tend to be caring for their young during these months.
Do Nothing
Finally, doing absolutely nothing is likely to be the best call. Unless there is a significant threat to the property or people, bats will move on when it’s their natural time to do so. They won’t attack you unless provoked, and aside from the droppings, unless they move into the house, there is little to no harm to come from them simply existing in your garden.
Conclusion
To summarise, if you do find bats in your garden it is best to just enjoy their presence. Bats are protected and rarely spotted frequently in public areas. And if you have bats, but are hoping to develop the property, always seek professional advice.
