Bats or Mice?

[julia.julibob]

I shall try to explain as best I can. I have a 3 bed semi and 3 years ago we did a loft conversion with a large dormer window. There is a small void under the apex of the roof which is inaccessible to us.

We have had bats in the vicinity in the summer for the last 2 years, as we have seen them flying between the houses and had bat poo on the car roofs and dustbins. I know that at this time of year they will be dormant, but last Friday night I heard soft scratching in the roof void above my bed. It was isolated to one area, and only lasted a few seconds. At 5 am this morning, my husband and I heard it again, and only lasting a few seconds.

Surely if it were mice, then we would hear more regular and prolonged movement? How would they get there? Do mice go up as far a above a 3rd storey?

I was wondering if it may be bats hibernating there for the winter.

I have contacted the Bat Conservation Trust today, and hopefully one of their volunteers will be ringing me. We need to find out, because if it is mice, then we need to eradicate them. Only problem will be getting to them!!!!

What do you think?

Julia

[paulthomas]

Most likely it's mice. Possibly a single Wood Mouse looking for somewhere warm for the winter. I think you've done the right thing by contacting the BCT to rule out bats though.

[thunder]

Could easily be a bat having a bit of a scrabble round - they like to turn over in bed as much as anyone!

henrya