Cities in Poland and the Czech Republic are seeing record numbers of bats taking over public places.
As environmentalists warn that warmer temperatures are drawing the animals to less traditional hunting spots, huge numbers have been recorded in public parks, hotels, and even homes.
The Czech city of Plzeň in the west of the country says it is seeing an infestation with swarms flocking to light sources, which attract insects.
Last year saw horrified tourists find over 200 bats in their hotel room after leaving a window open.
Karel Makoň, head of pest control in Plzeň, said: “Every year at this time we warn people that in the high-risk period, which lasts for two to three weeks, they need to take measures to make their flats and houses secure against a bat infestation, that they need to install insect screens in their windows if they are going to leave them open at night.
“But people are still careless, and it happens a lot. And you can end up with dozens or hundreds of bats in your house. That’s something you really don’t want to experience.”
He added: “Usually one or two bats fly in first, and if they are not disturbed by human activity, then others quickly follow.
“You can end up with 50 or 100 bats. We even found 500 bats in one apartment.
“Sometimes it happens that a bat gets stuck in a place from where it can't get out—usually a vase or a chandelier.
“It starts to squeak for help, and another 100 bats fly to its rescue. The damage to property as a result is considerable.
“Basically, you have to throw everything out and repaint.”
The Czech city of Plzeň in the west of the country says it is seeing an infestation with swarms flocking to light sources, which attract insects.
Last year saw horrified tourists find over 200 bats in their hotel room after leaving a window open.
Karel Makoň, head of pest control in Plzeň, said: “Every year at this time we warn people that in the high-risk period, which lasts for two to three weeks, they need to take measures to make their flats and houses secure against a bat infestation, that they need to install insect screens in their windows if they are going to leave them open at night.
He added: “Usually one or two bats fly in first, and if they are not disturbed by human activity, then others quickly follow.
“You can end up with 50 or 100 bats. We even found 500 bats in one apartment.
“Sometimes it happens that a bat gets stuck in a place from where it can't get out—usually a vase or a chandelier.
“It starts to squeak for help, and another 100 bats fly to its rescue. The damage to property as a result is considerable.
“Basically, you have to throw everything out and repaint.”
In Warsaw, July and August saw close to 220 bats of six different species identified in four parks, while another 50 were also found in a private apartment.
Poland’s Society for Bat Protection (OTON) says that climate change is forcing the mammals to abandon their traditional migration and hibernation habits.
Pointing to an increase in the high number of Nyctalus bats appearing in the Polish capital, Błażej Wojtowicz, president of OTON, said: “They [usually] migrate to where they can spend the winter, to places where they can find caves, fortifications.
“Winters have become milder, so why migrate when they can stay here?”
With no blood sucking bats in Europe, and only four cases of people dying from bat rabies, Karel Makoň from Plzeň Pest Control in the Czech Republic nonetheless warns that “we should do everything possible to prevent bats from infesting our homes.
“Unfortunately, people still underestimate the threat, and the situation is repeated every year in the same streets and houses.
“One of my colleagues got bitten recently, and we are awaiting the test result to see if he will need to undergo vaccination, which is quite a demanding procedure.”
Source: Czech English Radio/Radio Zet/ Noizz
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