Bats

[cmsally]

Anyone know why a bat would suddenly try to ingest part of my house?

We have had bats around for years, but the other night there was a strange noise coming from one of the outside walls near an open window. Then last night I heard it again and went out to investigate. There is a huge bat hanging on to the wood slats (that cover the inside of the roof overhang. The bugger is trying to gnaw through them. I found a long stick and chased him away. In the morning I could see he had stripped paint off sections of these slats and maybe eaten into the wood. Can't see too well it's 2 storeys up.

So what is this bats problem? Is he a paint addict, does he need more fibre in his diet?

I don't think he is trying to make a hole as he has done it repeatedly but in patches throughout an area of about 1m2.

Any specialists on bat behaviour?

[Tywais]

Does sound strange. One thing I can think of is that perhaps it did get in at some point earlier and has young ones in there now but forgot how to get back in. They are very maternal and the young need nursing for a while before they can leave.

Some interesting reading here > Myths or Facts about bats

[cmsally]

On further bat study last night, it seems he is taking food to that spot to eat. Last night he had food and no roof eating.

But the previous night , no food (that I could see) and he was definitely roof eating. Maybe he only eats my roof when he is hungry?

[bina]

what does he eat? fruit bats or insect bats???

[cmsally]

Big, fruit eating one. Body and head size of large squirrel.

[Sheryl]

Is he trying to break into the place bewteen roof and ceiling? That's what they did in my house (and still do whenever I let my bat-repellent regimen slip). They are VERY persistent , relentless when they ahve decided they want to inhabitr a certain place

(and believe me, you do NOT want them in that space. Will stink up your house and rot your ceilings. )