Could I have bats nesting in my roof?

[Smallsteps88]

I’m clueless about bats.

The past few nights I’ve heard this really high pitched, sonar like squeak right outside my bedroom window. It’s almost like an electrical sound but not IYSWIM. It goes on and off all night.

Do bats make nests in housing fascia? If it is a nest do I need to report it to any preservation people?

If they are in your roof then you can't disturb them.
They're noisy in there, though not as bad as wasps. My parents had them many times.

Oh I wouldn’t disturb them. I just wasn’t sure if they need to be on some sort of register. I know people do surveys and things about bats. I can’t hear any noise in the roof. Maybe this is just one bat who likes to hang out here at night?

You can't always hear bats. Are you sure it's not juvenile squirrels, they squeak.

We have bats in our roof and think they've been there at least 20 years but I've never heard any noises from them. We live in a 1930s semi if that has any relevance.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a squirrel round here. I’m in the middle of a town. I have seen bats though. It’s definitely up near my window. Two story mid- terrace.

We had rats in the roof and cavity walls of our terrace many years ago.
They were noisy buggers and it was a unpleasant summer

We had bats in the loft in our old house. Never heard a noise from them
Scuffling maybe but not an actual noise. We thought we saw bats around our house sometimes and our cat would sometimes stare at the loft like there was something there
And we found a baby bat on the stairs once
We didn't do anything about this apart from give the baby bat to a bat rescue but that's cos he fell out

We have a bat colony in our row of farm cottages and get them in the house about once a year.

I had a baby one under my bed once and it made a very quiet clicking noise.

We have had a fab, slightly mad looking David Bellamy type Bat Man come out to check it out after we had 2 babies inside and he got very excited about our colony. But I don't think you have to register it or anything.

You do have to be careful with what you do for pest control though. We had a wasp nest in the eaves once and couldn't spray it as it would have affected the bats.

Apart from the clicky noise which is usually a sign one is in the room I have never heard them though.

If you do then it's most likely to be pipestrelle bats which are tiny so could get under a tile. All bats in the UK are legally protected. It's an offense to disturb them or damage or destroy a roost. However most of their calls are too high frequency for the human ear! If you're keen you could get a pair of binoculars out and see if you can spot any likely entry points during the day, then station yourself out there shortly before sunset to see if you can see anyone coming in /out. You could also contact the bar conservation Trust or your local wildlife Trust for advice. They may be able to come check out out for you. And might bring a bat detector so you can hear them.

@Smallsteps88

I’m clueless about bats.

The past few nights I’ve heard this really high pitched, sonar like squeak right outside my bedroom window. It’s almost like an electrical sound but not IYSWIM. It goes on and off all night.

Do bats make nests in housing fascia? If it is a nest do I need to report it to any preservation people?

Pipistrelles sometimes make summer roosts under our soffits. Only on the north-ish side of the house, we'd sometimes see them coming in and out and there would be a bit of batshit in the side alley.

If it's just outside chances are it's a summer roost. All you have to do is leave them be, and if you need work doing on your fascias schedule it for outside of bat season.

Thanks everyone. This is the north facing side of the house. I’ll do nothing anyway but keep an eye out. It’s a rented house so I’ve no plans to do any work to the roof but I’ll let the LL know incase they’ve any plans (I doubt it).