The Kentuck Art Center has had some unwelcome visitors recently, who have now overstayed their welcome. A bat infestation has made itself at home at the art center, which will now relocate temporarily.
The bats were discovered when employees were opening up the shop. They noticed the bats flying around and decided to leave the shop closed while they investigated the problem.
“We had two bats fly into our gallery shop about a week and a half ago,” Kentuck executive director Shweta Gamble said. “So we did not open the shop. We called a wildlife expert to come check it out.”
Upon examination from an exterminator, it was determined that Kentuck is dealing with an infestation of little brown myotis bats. These bats are common to the area and are relatively small in size, with a wingspan of 6-7 inches. They are not currently sure of how many bats are contributing to the infestation. “From looking at the situation, it could be hundreds,” Gamble said.
In order to deal with the problem, Kentuck has enlisted the help of Bama Exterminating, Inc. Because little brown myotis bats are one of the many federally protected bat species, it is unlawful to harm them or even to harass them.
“Normally an exterminator has to do some type of something to make it uncomfortable for them to be there,” Wildlife Law Enforcement lieutenant Todd Draper said.
Bama Exterminating is working to address the infestation by establishing small tubes throughout that allow for the bats to enter through the tube but not to go back and forth through it. This allows them to travel outward through the tube but prevents them from coming back in.
Then the process of removing the guano and other harmful parasites bats leave behind will begin.
“Because of the bat guano, which is toxic, we are having to rip out the ceilings and kind of gut the building to clean it up,” Gamble said.
The Kentuck Art Center is an old building and has been in need of renovations for a while. While this is not what they had in mind, the bats are fast-forwarding that process.
“It’s an old historic building, so it has a lot of things that need repair,” Gamble said. “There were renovations that needed to come anyway.”
One of the challenges facing this project is the upcoming breeding season. These bats breed in the spring, and the babies cannot be removed from the mothers. Baby bats have to be left until they reach maturity.
“The issue was the fact that their breeding season starts in the spring, and they are protected so you can’t harass them. You can’t do anything,” Gamble said. “We have to hurry and do it.”
As of now, Kentuck is working to manage the problem. They are moving their office and shop into the nearby Georgine Clarke Building. They are continuing with their regularly scheduled events.
“We are still trying to figure that out,” Gamble said.
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