Terrified woman forced to sleep in CAR after more than 500 bats invade Scots home

Scottish Sun

18-07-2025

Scroll down to see the what Anne-Marie is dealing with
HOME INVASION Terrified woman forced to sleep in CAR after more than 500 bats invade Scots home
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A TERRIFIED homeowner told how she's been forced to sleep in her car - because BATS have moved into her house.
Spooked Anne-Marie Murchie has a colony of more than 500 of the winged creatures in her walls and roof.
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Anne-Marie Murchie revealed she's being forced to sleep in her car
Credit: Anne-Marie Murchie / Facebook
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She posted a video on Facebook showing one of the creatures
Credit: Anne-Marie Murchie / Facebook
But because they're protected by law there is nothing she can do about the scary lodgers.
And the taxi driver, from Aberdeen, revealed she's the one who's been forced out of her own gaff.
Because she can no longer cope with the racket she's working nights and often kipping in her motor to escape.
Anne-Marie said: 'I'm living in fear every day.
"I'm scared to come into the house. Sometimes I actually sleep outside in the car. I'm just petrified.
"The noise is horrendous, it's like running water. But I think it's all the wings going together, like flapping.
"It never stops. They get louder at about five or six at night and then when they come in at five in the morning. But they're constantly making noise. I wonder if they sleep."
Anne-Marie initially thought she had mice or a wasps's nest after hearing strange noises at her home.
She told the BBC she called in pest control experts who revealed the problem was being caused by bats.
Since then she's 'flipped' after she found one hiding in her toilet roll holder and others in her living room and kitchen.
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She revealed her anxiety has spiralled through the roof as she's plagued by noises and smells.
But animal experts have warned that she can't do anything that will impact the colony of soprano pipistrelles, Britain's most common type of bats.
At one point she moved out and is now spending as much time as she can on the road to avoid her winged tenants.
She said: 'It's sad that you can't do anything about it in your own home.
"I feel like the rules should change a bit. Surely someone can come in that's licensed and take them away to somewhere humanely?"
It's hoped the bats will move on in the next few weeks and once they're gone Anne-Marie will be allowed to seal up the spots they've squeezed in through.
A spokesman for Naturescot said: ''With regard to what you can do with them, actually nothing.
'They are a protected species under European protection laws and Scottish and UK laws.
"So the bats themselves can't be touched, nor can the roosts.''
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Bats are a protected species
Credit: Getty