14. Bats
A flutter at dusk, and suddenly something flies through your living room – bats like to roost in roof spaces, behind shutters, and in gaps in the facade. The good news: they’re completely harmless, eat massive amounts of mosquitoes and insects, and are strictly protected by law – you cannot evict them or destroy their roosts. The bad news: their droppings (guano) can smell and leave stains.
How to handle them: If a single bat has strayed into your home: open the window wide, turn off the lights, and be patient – it will find its way out on its own. Don’t touch it (rabies risk, even though it’s rare). If a whole colony lives in your attic: don’t act on your own – contact your local wildlife protection authority. They advise for free and help find an animal-friendly solution. In autumn, when the bats leave their roost, you can have the entry points sealed with permission.
When to Call a Professional?
If home remedies don’t work or the infestation is really bad, don’t hesitate – call a professional pest controller. Especially with bed bugs, cockroaches, and mice, it’s often the only solution that truly works. Better to do it once properly than to experiment for months.