Bats and Birds in my attic! Help needed!

1798

I hope somebody can give me some advice. Their is a small gap between ridge tile and top of the tiles under it at one of the gable ends of my house. I have seen smalls birds entering and leaving through it. Their was also a swallows nest under the fascias. The swallows have built their every year for the last 6 years. This nest never survives the summer, it always gets too wet and falls during bad weather in the summer. This year it has fallen already. When it fell I noticed that now there is a hole in the wall right at the top of the eves, that was hidden by the nest. So there are 2 small entrances where birds have been in. My bedroom is at this gable end of the house. This has not been a problem before but recently the noise every night is getting unbearable!! It is constant scratching & rustling. I have taken to putting in earplugs going to bed. I said right I've had enough and I went up in the attic to fill the holes with expandable form. It was as I crawled through the attic towards that gable that I saw the bats on the roof felt just above the insulation about 20 of them. The bats are at the opposite side of the house to where I thought the noise was coming from, but as it is above my head I could not be sure.
I have read forums saying bats are protected and do not cause noise, it that the case I don't have a problem. How do I get only the birds out?? I need sleep.

Nekarsulm

Yeah, bats are protected species.
We have them in the roof space as well, and you will get a bit of scuffling at night, as well as some squeaking.
Not enough to keep me awake though.
Their entrance hole is directly above two windows, and seemingly bats defecate just before entering their roost, which means their droppings land on the window sills.
The positive thing about them, is they eat a great many insects every night so think of all the bugs you don't have, thanks to them!

DBB

I'm going to move your thread over to Nature and Birdwatching OP, you should get help there.
Please note a different charter applies.
Thanks,
DBB

Nekarsulm

Just a thought, make sure you have a cover on your water tank and central heating header tank in the roof space. A sheet of aeroboard or a marraige campaign poster or suchlike will do. Stops any bats drowning in the tank.

Woodville56

Sorry if my reply brings you cold comfort 1798, but If you've got birds nesting in your attic, I'm afraid it's a case of keeping the earplugs in until they fledge or the nesting season finishes, as nesting birds are protected under wildlife legislation. After the breeding season is over and the birds /bats have vacated your roof-space, would it be possible to block the holes in the eve so as to prevent a reoccurrence next year if they are troublesome for your sleeping?. I've had birds and bats and even a pine marten in my roof over the years and didn't find them obtrusive. So, for what remains of the breeding season, hang in there, be patient, nesting birds need a home too. They will leave your roof soon and then you can make your repairs.

1798

Thanks for all the advice. I've looked all around the house and cannot find any droppings other that beneath the holes, so the bats must be using the same entrance as the birds. My water tank is not in the attic so not a concern there. I spent a good while in bedroom listening to the noise and pretty sure it not where the bats are, just the birds. No earplugs last night so fingers crossed I'm getting used to it. I'll endure it this summer but will be filling those holes the minute they are gone!! When will the nesting season for the birds and the bats be over??

1798

Also not sure how I feel about this being in the Recreation section either!!! Can't say I'm exactly enjoying the experience.

Nekarsulm

Eh, the bats you will have year round. Just they hibernate in the winter and early spring.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Eh, the bats you will have year round. Just they hibernate in the winter and early spring.

Bats are seasonal visitors with Summer and Winter roosts.

Interslice

Angel Drab Hairdressing wrote: »

Bats are seasonal visitors with Summer and Winter roosts.

Yep a house is too warm for hibernation. Sounds more like mice/rats tbh. Any scuttling about the roof felt by the bats you're unlikely to hear! They will generally be out and about most of the night too especially this time of year. Certainly wont be running about just above your bedroom ceiling on the rafters and plasterboard. Set some traps or lay poison for the mice.

Nekarsulm

Angel Drab Hairdressing wrote: »

Bats are seasonal visitors with Summer and Winter roosts.

You learn something new every day!
What kind of distances do they travel?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Nekarsulm wrote: »

You learn something new every day!
What kind of distances do they travel?

Considerable distances.

Nekarsulm

Angel Drab Hairdressing wrote: »

Considerable distances.

Thumbs down?

As far as a set of farm buildings?
As far as the next county?
As far as Scotland?
As far as France?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Thumbs down?

As far as a set of farm buildings?
As far as the next county?
As far as Scotland?
As far as France?

Thumbs down = 71 year old and a touch screen.

Distance depends on the availability of suitable roosts. It can be 10km or more and it can be 1km.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Interslice wrote: »

Yep a house is too warm for hibernation. Sounds more like mice/rats tbh. Any scuttling about the roof felt by the bats you're unlikely to hear! They will generally be out and about most of the night too especially this time of year. Certainly wont be running about just above your bedroom ceiling on the rafters and plasterboard. Set some traps or lay poison for the mice.

I agree that he wouldn't hear bats. House sparrows make a skuttling noise quite like mice but not at night. If the noise is through the night I would suspect mice.

pawrick

Interslice wrote: »

Set some traps or lay poison for the mice.

Don't lay poison in your attic unless you want the stink of rotting mice. They can end up dying in your walls and any other place they can crawl in to. Mouse traps are the way to go and peanut butter seems to work well as bait.

Nekarsulm

When they hibernate out of your roof, would ultrasonic pest repellers keep them out?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

They won't hibernate in many houses. Houses are usually summer roosts.

Please keep in mind that these are a protected species and any action that disturbs them is illegal.

Nekarsulm

You can't disturb something that isn't there!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Nekarsulm wrote: »

You can't disturb something that isn't there!

Ultrasonic devices are completely ineffective. I don't want to get in to deterring Bats on a Nature forum.
The bigger question is why anybody would want to deter bats that do no harm and cause no disturbance in homes.

1798

Mice was my first thought too. I have two mice traps up in the roof and they have not been sprung. I've seen birds going in and out, so it seems they are my problem and only found the bats by accident.
Glad to hear a house is too warm for bats to hibernate. When would be a good time to fill the holes, without the worry of trapping the birds or bats in the attic??

1798

I dont mind that bats as I said I think I only found them because of the Birds. Is there some way to stop the birds only and leave the bats?

Interslice

[QUOTE=1798;9587263mind that bats as I said I think I only found them because of the Birds. Is there some way to stop the birds only and leave the bats?[/QUOTE]

If you contact bat conservation ireland they might send out someone to have a look.

A bat will generally fit through a much smaller hole. Some species are larger than others so you need to know which one your dealing with. You shouldnt touch it this summer unless your 100 percent they have another exit. Theres a good chance they do.