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Invasion of 1,200 bats forces taxi driver to sleep in her cab

Invasion of 1,200 bats forces taxi driver to sleep in her cab

Times20-07-2025
One night earlier this summer Anne-Marie Murchie sleepily went to the bathroom. The taxi driver reached out for some paper and got a surprise so terrifying she started sleeping in her car.
'Half asleep, I grabbed the toilet roll holder and a bat came out and held on to my hand.'
Murchie's home in Dyce near Aberdeen has been invaded by a colony of up to 1,200 soprano pipistrelles.
Soprano pipistrelles one of the most common bat species in Britain. The weight up to 8 grammes and have a wingspan of about 200mm
ALAMY
Because the animals are protected, there is nothing the 41-year-old can do until they move on at the end of the summer maternity season, which could be next month or even September.
The bats are everywhere. 'They're above the spotlights in the kitchen and they've popped them out a few times as well,' she said. 'I'm scared to come in the house. Sometimes I actually sleep outside in the car. I'm just petrified.'
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