Bayreuth environmental office issues guidance on bats in homes

The Bayreuth Office for Environmental and Climate Protection has issued guidance for residents following an increase in bats entering homes during late summer. As bats leave their summer quarters to find frost-proof shelters, species such as the common pipistrelle often enter buildings through open or tilted windows.

To manage the situation, officials recommend waiting until dusk and fully opening windows to allow the animals to exit independently. If an animal remains hidden, it can be carefully captured using a cloth bag or a cardboard box and kept in a dark, quiet place until evening, when it can be released near its original location. Experts advise that residents should only handle bats while wearing gloves.