Flying taupe!

[Jonzjob]

The kind that dig 'oles in yer grass, poo-eee! We got the type wot fly around the lounge and dining room. To  be frank we have got a pipestrelle bat (taupe in our dictionary) that has decided that it's better to wait until we sit down to our dinner in the evening and then show us how good it is at flying around the rooms. It is absolutly wonderful to watch, but the poor tiny thing should be sound asleep for the wnter. It must be slowly starving to death.

I have tried to catch it with the idea of putting it up in the mezanine floor above our garage where it is cold, but not freezing, so it can go to sleep. But have you ever tried knitting fog? The idea is to sneak up on it when it has landed on a wall and slip a box over it, then you slide a bit of cardboard along the wall to trap the bat inside the box. Easy? Not with our walls, they are VERY rough crepi and any cardboard that is in touch with the wall for more than a couple of inches is rippped to bits... Plus, when you get anywhere near the poor little thing it leaps back into the air and is using yet more valuable energy.

What I need to know is :- how do I catch this lovely little animal and when (if) I do then will putting it in a clod place make it realise that the summer has not arrived early and it must sleep, or will it just die in it's sleep anyway?

I will be getting in touch with the U.K. Bat Conservation Groupe in the morning, but I feel that any help that I can get will only help.

I must also admit that my wife and I are just a little phased when we are sat eating and we are buzzed by a 'taupe' with a 6 inch, or so, wing span!

John.

[chris pp]

Hi John, The link below is for Bat specialists / rescue in France.

 http://www.sfepm.org/groupeChiropteres.htm

Where abouts are you?

Chris

 

[chris pp]

General information, bats are called Chauves-souris in French, the common pipistrelle (pipistrelle commune) will often seek to overwinter in houses unlike many other bat species which go into underground caves and similar places. The problem for this bat would seem that it has got itself into a part of the house that is too warm and needs to be able to access a cooler/quieter part of the building where it can hibernate. Bats will often "wake up" in winter during mild periods when some food will be available, I noticed a few days ago that there were large numbers of moths and other flying insects when I drove home in the dark and saw at least two bats.

Chris.

[Jonzjob]

Hi Chris, sorry I didn't get back earlier. Our livebox turner into a dead one  and it took a few daze to sort it. Luckly we still had our ASL 'modem' so we were still on line.

The little bat, I caught it just before I phoned the Bat Conserv place in the U.K. They gave me the info about feeding it. It is in a box with a bit of old 't' shirt to cuddle into in the cold dark loft abouve our garage. It is still alive and eating a little. So when it warms up a bit we will put the box on it's side in our abri and see if it goes. The latest thing that has happened is that a couple of birds, a femail chaffinch and a coalt it, flew into our enormouse (?) patio doors and knocked themselves silly. It was bitter cold so I gave them a warm pair of hands to rest in and they were both fine. The coalt it was only as long as the width of my hand and weighed about 1/2 of nothing. Lovely little things. We put the fat balls and loads of seed out and have a wonderful breakfast while we watch to see how many can get on one ball. I think the record has been 4 so far.

This comming Spring I am going to build a load of bird and a few bat boxes to put around in the garden. May even go th an owl box too?

John.

P.S. I nearly forgot to say that we live in a lovely, quiet little village a few miles N/E of Carcassonne, Aude. Normally a warm place, but freezing the squirrels knuts off at the moment!

[chris pp]

Glad you sorted your bat problem out, I've had them a couple of times in the living part of buildings but normally they stop flying round and attach themselves to something and can be picked up using a handkerchief or a duster, always need to be a bit careful not to get bitten!   Bat boxes are a great idea, also leaving some slots in the exterior stonework of houses when renovating, we have bats which use the holes in the walls of the house for summer "gites".   

Good luck, Chris

 

[Jonzjob]

Hi Chris, Spring must be on the way. We have seen our 1st black redstart in the garden just now. Lovely little bird! Last year we even had a black woodpecker visit us.

I made a tawny owl box for my neighbour in the U.K. It took nearly a whole 8 X 4 sheet of ply wood, so with the price of contra plaque here I don't think I will be going quite that far?

 

Happy New Year,

John.

[Weedon]

Sorry to butt in on the flying taupe stories, but it reminded me of something that happened in the summer.

First thing in the morning it is my habit to stroll around the garden with my 2 dogs one of which is an old Jack Russell whio is now a bit feeble on her legs so goes at my speed (slow).  As I was passing one of our Oak trees something came tumbling down through the branches and leaves and landed in the grass nearby.  Naturally I was curious as to what it may be because acorns are not that big and wouldn't make that sort of noise falling through the tree and then landing in the grass.  It turned out to be a mole with it's head missing, I can only presume it was being eaten by an Owl or some other bird of prey who then dropped it.  So you can see why I was intrigued by the Flying Taupe heading.

weedon

[chris pp]

Could have been a pine marten or stone marten as well, whatever it was it probably only wanted "to pick someones brains" ?

Chris

[Jonzjob]

Oh blimey!!!!! We now have another one!!!!! [:O] Frances went up to our mezanine to put the PC on and was buzzed by another bat! I went to check Batty1 was still in his box and he is. Batty2 flew around for a while and then vanished, can't find him anywhere. How do I know he is a he I hear you ask. Well it's because he's much to butch to be a girly bat. He buzzed me so close I could feel the wind beneath his wings (thinks, I could write a song about that [^o)]?) We don't know where they are comming from, but when I catch this one he has got to go out. We can't have 2 in our garage mezanine.

When I checked Batty1, I thought he was dead, but he moved his head. I thought as it's a nice evening maybe if I put the box in out carport, on it's side, then he may just decide to see if he could get some supper, but all the poor little thing did was to fall out of the box onto the floor. He let out the most plaintive cry when I picked him up and put him back in his box. He seemed very weak. I gave him some fresh water and food and he is now back in the cool and dark above our garage. We just hope the lovely little thing survives!!!

John.

[Jonzjob]

We had a visit from our local 'bat man' today( no the robin was still n the garden, in the snow, and he looked lovely! And we made sure he was well fed). He confirmed that the tiny captive bat is a pippestrell (spelling?) and that we should put the box he is in into our grenier, on it's side, and leave it there for the Winter. The little thing will sleep through and wake up in the Spring feeling no worse for our meeting. It is such a tiny mite and absolutley lovely. When it was handled, very carefully, by 'bat man' it let out a tiny squeek of complaint. I think it was "bujjer off and let me kip". I'm afraid it looses a bit in the traduction pert etra?

One of the things that worries my better 1/2 is that the guy said there may just be a few more yet to appear!?!?!? I must admit that I found it incredible to be sitting and having our dinner and have a little pippestrel bat flying close overhead, but Frances was just a tiny touch phased by it (is that the correct discription for hysteikz?). No not really, but definately not toooo happy.

I was always fascinated by bats, now it is much more than that especially after having such a tiny flying specialist in my hand. They are wonderful!

John.

P.S. Thank you Chris pp for your help.

[chris pp]

John,

Has your bat been out yet or is it staying put?

I would have thought it may have taken a look outside in the milder spells that we have had and grabbed a snack.

Chris

[Jonzjob]

Hi Chris, thanks for your continued interest.

After I had put the box up in the attic on it's side, as advised by 'batman', I went and looked at it a few daze later. The bat had crawled out and was by the attic door. I very carefully put it back in the box and left it in peace. A week or 2 later I had another peek and he was nowhere to be found. We had had some warm weather and he must have gone then.

I have since looked, but no sign of him. We just hope that we see him flying around this Spring, but we will never know? I do know that we will see lots of them though!

John.

[Jonzjob]

"John,

Has your bat been out yet or is it staying put?

I would have thought it may have taken a look outside in the milder spells that we have had and grabbed a snack.

Chris"

Hi Chris,

I'm sorry to say that I found a dead Pippestrelle in a box that I moved into my workshop yesterday. I don't know if it was 'our' bat, but it was at the bottom of the stairs to the loft it was in, so? It looked so very small, how any of them survive the winter I don't know??? We look forward to seeing his mates though and I wish I could work out a way of photographing a couple of them. By the way that would have to be without flash, I hate that thing and use it if is the only way, but not to try to get bats!!!

I'll let you know how it goes.

John.

[chris pp]

That's a shame John after all the effort but that's the way it goes, win some, loose some. Somewhat of thread, but I found "our" local barn owl last week being eaten by crows having been struck by a vehicle. I know that thousands of creatures die or get killed all the time but it's always a little different if it's one you know.

How were you thinking of doing the photography, while they are flying or when they are static?

Chris

[Eslier]

Now I realise this post won't go down well with some of you but . . .

Perhaps I've been in France too long and the countryside ways are getting to me but, for goodness sake, bats are vermine. Thinkof them as flying rats. Would you be happy to let a rat run around your home, no I think not so why do you allow a bat to fly around ?

My own, one and only experience of having a bat inside, well two bats in fact, resulted in about half an hour of great hilarity as we threw pillows at them. One, sensibly, decided it was better to fly out of the door it had entered through and the other eventually was stunned by a flying pillow and disposed of.

It is possible to buy ultrasonic speakers which emit a very high pitched sound that humans can't hear but drives bats batty. Plug one or two of these in and your bats will pack their bags and look for somewhere else to live.

Sorry !

[chris pp]

You're right, it doesn't go down to well with me and I will say why. First bats are not vermin, neither by dictionary definition or in law. Bats do no harm what so ever to humans in any way at all, yes they are vectors for rabies, but you have to get bitten by one first and in the normal course of events that would only be by an authorised person as they would be handling them. Their excrement is entirely harmless, dry, doesn't smell and is in fact an extremely good fertiliser. They do not damage buildings or other human structures. They have suffered catastrophic declines in population, 98% for some species and importantly they have full protection at the highest level in National law in all EU countries and it is an imprisionable offence to harm them, including using sonic devices.

Discuss?  Chris

PS. I"ve been in France a while as well.

 

[Jonzjob]

Our neighbours, all French, don't look at bats as vermin. As far as I know they have lived here in France for a while too! I live right on the edge of a small village and have lived all my life in the country at one place or another, so please don't call me a townie yelling about the countryside. If you were to do some checking up about bats you would find that we would be in sh!t street without them. They eat a huge amount of insects that would damage the human enviroment and do a boat load of good.

I suppose that if you are or were a Transalvanien resident then you may look at them in a different way. Although it may well be the same if you read the books.

My sister was always afraid of bats because she was told as a child that they flew into your hair and got tangled up. That holds about as much truth as a comment that bats are vermin.

As Chris said, don't get caught being stupidly cruel to bats. It may just bat fire, sorry back fire on you in law....

Chris, as far as the photos are concerned I would love to get some of them in flight, but I haven't worked that one out yet? Our bat didn't leave enough poo to do much for our 3000 square meter garden????

John.

[chris pp]

Here's a little piccy I took earlier this week of a Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Johns already had a copy. I was told about someone locally who had bats in their cellar and arranged to go and see what they were, quite a pleasant surprise to find two of these as they are getting a bit rare in some places and are extinct in some European countries.

Chris

[chirpy]

last year i noticed a bat behind the pillow on our bed -it had flown in early that evening would it be a bloodsucker waiting for it,s chance on my neck?my wife would like a topiary is this where the name came from?

i now sleep with a bee keepers face net.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not a pretty sight -even to a bat.[:)]

[Just Katie]

I really do have a serious phobia about bats (also slugs and baked beans).  I dont know why.  I come over in a sweat when I go in the attic.  Sorry Chris but your picture made me come over all unnecessary.  [+o(]

[Jonzjob]

Hi KKK,

If you were able to hold a bat you would find that their fur is as soft as air, they are as light as a feather and the small ones can't bite you because their tiny teeth aren't big or strong enouth to go through the skin... They do NO harm to us and are a very valuable gaurdian looking after the insects that would overwhelm us without them. They don't fly into and get tangled in your hair, they are far too cleaver at flying than that. To see them in the evening willl put an aerobatic display to shame and believe me I have seen some good displays!

Don't be frightened of them. When the evenings get a bit lighter and warmer turn the 'haunted fish tank (T.V.) off, go outside and, if you have a street light near you, just stand quietly for a few minutes and watch near the light. With luck you will see tiny shapes flashing past the light catching the insects that are attracted to the light. They are so graceful and if they are not pretty for you to look at, just think how pretty you look to them... Are you as graceful as they are?

They are wonderful little flying mamals, what more can I say other than I wish I could fly my radio controlled gliders 0.1% as well as they do?

John.

P.S. I'll go along with you with the bloody baked beans!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jonzjob]

"i now sleep with a bee keepers face net.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not a pretty sight -even to a bat.[:)]"

Where do you put the net?????????? Over the window?[8-)]

John.

[TarnGranny]

John, we have exactly the same problem as you. If you leave these wonderful creatures to fly around for a while they will eventually find their own way out again without any help. They are actually eating insects, even in the house, and ours sometimes get fooled by the warmth from our fires in the winter - mind you, Christmas Day here some were actually flying outside because it was quite warm!

In our case they get into the house from the loft through tiny holes in the ceiling and walls. Our biggest problem used to be from our mezzanine area, where the annual nursery is established, for a few weeks during June and July, although this is getting less each year as the bat droppings gradually fill up the cracks under the nursery!

It is virtually impossible to find and fill all the access cracks, and if you do try please use a non-poisonous filler!

I had an article published in a well-known magazine about our experiences, and if you want a copy just email me at [email protected]

Best wishes,

Jenny

[Just Katie]

Thanks Jonz you did your best to talk me through it and I must admit it warmed me a little.  I would really love to get over this problem as I know I have got to share my house and garden with bats.  I live in the sticks so there are always loads of them about and they ruin my summer evenings outside.  Big problems.  As for holding one I would find jumping barefoot on a plug then sleeping on a bed of nails next to ab in his hairnet more pleasurable. Saying that I can understand their purpose in the world. SLUGS Why? What is their purpose?  I can feel the back of my neck going just writing about them and must stop now!!!  Baked beans??  I would rather sit in a bath of maggots and worms than a bath of baked beans.  I come over all queasey when I pass them in the shopping aisle and refuse to have them in my cupboard. By the way, I am not attempting humour here I mean every thing I have said here LITERALLY

[chris pp]

Good Morning Katie, I suppose I'm one of those strange people that just loves life and all living things, but I do understand that for one reason or another people have problems with certain species, often I think that this is a result of learnt behaviour in childhood, perhaps not even remembered, or a failure to understand the full nature of biodiversity and the role any given species occupies, much of which is still not understood by "the experts".  Slugs play an incredibly important role in the world, one of their more obvious functions is as a valuable food resource for a vast number of other species of birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, so widely consumed and in vast numbers and there would be severe knock on consequences if they were no longer here, it's all a matter of perspective.

Baked beans is a subject I wouldn't dare to comment on, Chris