Intruders drive family 'batty'

Bats favour confined spaces

A Scots family have discovered their home has been invaded by a colony of bats.

Bill and Carina Doherty, who have four sons, have found bats nesting in wall cavities in the attic of their East Kilbride home.

The pipistrelle bats, which are a protected species, cannot be moved until the autumn for fear of killing any babies born during the summer season.

There are estimated to be up to 300 of the bats in the "maternity roost" in the Doherty's roof.

Carina Doherty: Scared to open cupboards

Mrs Doherty said her four sons had found the bats lurking in dark places like bags and cupboards.

She said: "We were sitting in the lounge and we watched at least 200 bats flying from the cavity of the house.

"They've been in the bedrooms, they've actually been on our bed, the kitchen.

"They're everywhere and we're obviously scared to open cupboard doors, go into the linen cupboard or shoe cupboards because the bats are in there.

"It's not unusual to open up and find a bat lying there on the floor."

Scottish National Heritage and South Lanarkshire Council have said they sympathise with the family, but said that nothing can be done until later in the year.

Birthing time

Pipistrelle bats are common across Scotland, with bats favouring the outside of buildings for nests.

Maternity roosts are occupied between May and August, with females giving birth to a single baby.

Within three weeks the young make their first flights and by six weeks can forage for themselves.

Most colonies start to disperse soon after the young are weaned.