Texas Family's Rental Home Overrun by Protected Bat Colony

Unwelcome Guests in North Harris County

• 🦇 A family in North Harris County discovered a large colony of bats had taken up residence in their rental home.
• 👃 The problem began with a persistent, unidentifiable odor, which was later identified by wildlife control specialists as the smell of bat droppings.

Discovery and Suspected Entry

• 🏠 The renters, the Taylor family, first noticed bats in the fireplace about two years prior after a storm dislodged the chimney cover.
• 🧱 They believe the bats were trapped inside when the cover was replaced and subsequently found their way into the walls.

Challenges with Removal

• ⚖️ Bats are a protected species, requiring specific handling procedures and preventing immediate removal.
• 📅 Experts indicate that the bats cannot be legally removed until the end of August, after the mating season concludes.

Concerns Over Air Quality and Property Owner Response

• ⚠️ The family is concerned about the air quality due to potential bat guano lining the inner walls, noting that bat feces can carry specific diseases.
• 📧 An email from the property owner stated that contractors have been hired to implement mechanisms to encourage the bats to leave on their own, a process that could take weeks.
• ❓ The renters feel unsafe and unnerved, awaiting an official declaration of the home's unsafety.