If a bat makes its way into your bedroom/house it is usually because it has become confused and drawn to your internal lights. A good tip is to open all the windows and turn out any lights (or any source of light). The bat will exit via the nearest window.
When all the windows are open on a hot night the Bats here just include the house in their hunting ground. I'm rarely aware of them but see the droppings on light coloured paint work. Their echo location is very good and they mange the doors and windows with no problems.
It was nothing to do with the lights @AnnaB ... they were off at 2.30 a.m. and had been for several hours. Bats, in our experience (of nearly 40 years), do not exit open windows or doors very easily for some unknown reason ... it can take up to half an hour before they finally find their way. 🤷🏼♀️
We knew there were bats about. Then we discovered with a bat detector that we probably had pipistrelles and noctules (the big ones). Then a lady from the local Natural history society had a Echometer 2 pro that you plug into an ipad or phone. That records where on walks they are, and analyses the sounds to give a list of what there are there. We got pipistrelles, noctules, Natterers bat, a hit on a brown long eared bat on my front doorstep, and Leislers bat. Leislers bat are classed as near threatened and RHS got very excited they had them in their gardens. Of course the local planning dept just disregard all that as it doesn't fit their agenda. They prefer to believe the "expert" report. The experts were so good they said there were no signs of the roe deer that does a regular trip around my garden, and we can't prove she lives on the building site(next door) Well she's not living in my shed.
We decided to get one of these magic machines, and lo and behold, our top oak tree has pipistrelles roosting, but the bottom oak tree, an hour after dusk, has a load of brown long eared bats. They are also known as whispering bats, 25 Mhz instead of around 49 with pipistrelles.
The planning department should be reminded that bats are protected by law!
I'm hoping to get a bat detector soon - it's on my birthday list! 🙂 We used one many years ago to detect Daubenton's bats when we lived near the River Inny and the common pipistrelle which were in the house walls. Our daughters, then at primary school, were so excited to do a 'bat count' for the 'bat man' - they counted over 60 bats as they emerged from the wall at dusk.
They have finally accepted that there may be bats in the house that is due to be demolished, built circa 1840's. However the woodland area was not surveyed as it has a TPO and "no more trees will come out" Then they applied for permission to remove more trees in the woodland area and cut a row of "protected" lime trees in half. It went through on the nod. I despair. The first bat detector we got was a Magenta 5. Useful for showing neighbours who had no idea that the thing flittering about at dusk is not a bird going to bed. Its not accurate enough to tell you which sort of bat, but the Echometer touch 2 pro is. There is a version for mac and another for android. Lots of videos online showing you how to use it.
I was looking at the Magenta 5 ... I know it is an 'entry level' detector (and probably all we could afford) but thought the NHBS review stated that you could identify the bats. It wouldn't be much good if it could only tell us that there are bats about ... we already know that. 🧐 The Echo Meter Touch 2 is definitely out of our price range though. 😕 Thanks for the recommendation though. 🙂
I noticed bats over my garden at dusk for the first time in my ten years in the house. I'm entirely delighted. I've seen dragonflies for the first time too. It may, of course, that I wasn't paying close enough attention before....
Please be aware of the risk of rabies and bats in the UK. The colony in Dorset has a particular strain, so do seek medical advice is bitten or scratched by one. Due to the size of UK bats, their bite is usually felt, but often no wound can be seen.
Rabies in the UK
The UK has been rabies-free since the beginning of the 20th century, except for a rabies-like virus in a small number of wild bats.
The risk of human infection from bats is thought to be low. People who regularly handle bats are most at risk.
There's only been 1 recorded case of someone catching rabies from a bat in the UK.
It's also rare for infected bats to spread rabies to other animals.
But if you find a dead or injured bat, do not touch it. Wear thick gloves if you need to move it.
If you find a dead or injured bat, you should report it and get advice by calling:
the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301 (if you're in England)
the APHA Rural Services Helpline on 0300 303 8268 (if you're in Wales)
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In the sticks near Peterborough
I'm hoping to get a bat detector soon - it's on my birthday list! 🙂 We used one many years ago to detect Daubenton's bats when we lived near the River Inny and the common pipistrelle which were in the house walls. Our daughters, then at primary school, were so excited to do a 'bat count' for the 'bat man' - they counted over 60 bats as they emerged from the wall at dusk.
The Echo Meter Touch 2 is definitely out of our price range though. 😕
Thanks for the recommendation though. 🙂
Rabies in the UK
The UK has been rabies-free since the beginning of the 20th century, except for a rabies-like virus in a small number of wild bats.
The risk of human infection from bats is thought to be low. People who regularly handle bats are most at risk.
There's only been 1 recorded case of someone catching rabies from a bat in the UK.
It's also rare for infected bats to spread rabies to other animals.
But if you find a dead or injured bat, do not touch it. Wear thick gloves if you need to move it.
If you find a dead or injured bat, you should report it and get advice by calling:
If you have been bitten by a bat in the UK, go to a GP surgery, your nearest urgent care centre or your nearest hospital to get help and start post-exposure treatment.
GOV.UK: Rabies risks from bat bites.