A colony of 25 protected bats occupies the wall of a bedroom in a house in Sabadell. The family has been enduring noises, foul smells, and health risks for over a month, but the law prevents their removal until the breeding season ends.
Bàrbara Sanz and her family, neighbours in Sabadell, have been trapped in an unusual situation for over a month: a colony of 25 protected bats has settled inside the wall of their master bedroom. What began as strange noises has turned into a nightmare with a nauseating smell and health risks, as they reported on the programme "Herrera a COPE Catalunya".
Pest control technicians confirmed that they were not rats, but bats, a species protected by law. Since it is currently breeding season, no professional can intervene to remove them. The family, consisting of five members —including three children aged 2, 11, and 13— has been forced to coexist with the animals.
Unbearable noises and a smell that forces the use of masks
It all began about a month and a week ago when Bàrbara and her husband started hearing "like something was scratching from inside" the wall. When they knocked on it, the noise was "like 400 rats". The pest control company diagnosed the presence of bats and refused to act due to legal protection.
The smell of guano —the droppings of the bats— has become unbearable. The Departament de Salut warned the family that guano releases a fungus that "can affect the respiratory system", especially dangerous for immunocompromised individuals and children under 3 years old. Bàrbara's youngest daughter is only two years old. "The guano releases a fungus that can affect the respiratory system," explained the affected mother.
"I can't afford to pay a mortgage and also rent"
The authorities even suggested that they use FFP2 masks inside the house or that they leave, an unfeasible option for the family. "I can't afford to pay a mortgage and also rent," Bàrbara stated.
Media pressure reveals a colony of 25 specimens and seven corpses
Desperate, Bàrbara made her case public through media and social networks. The response was immediate: the Museu de les Ciències Naturals de Granollers contacted her and sent a team of specialists. The inspection revealed that there were 25 live bats in the wall and, worse still, seven decomposing corpses. The family had been breathing in the smell of the dead animals for weeks.
The media pressure also prompted a call from the conseller de Agricultura, who, according to Bàrbara, committed to finding a solution. "We didn't want to kill the animals, just to have them relocated," she clarified.
The family's life has been completely disrupted: they have had to cancel their holidays, cannot use the air conditioning through ducts because it spreads the stench, and Bàrbara sleeps on the sofa while her husband stays in the bedroom for work. Regulations prevent removal until the end of October or early November, when the breeding season ends.
The case has highlighted a conflict between wildlife protection and the health of the neighbours. Meanwhile, the family in Sabadell continues to coexist with their winged tenants, waiting for the authorities to act before the smell and health risks become unbearable.
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