Bat problem persists at University of Georgia dorm, school says

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - After more than two weeks, bats continue to plague a University of Georgia (UGA) dorm, the school said.

On Thursday, pest control found about 30 bats huddling in the rafters of a rooftop mechanical space in the Oglethorpe House residence hall, according to a UGA statement. After parts of the residence hall were sealed last weekend, UGA said it believes the bats may have been trapped inside the space.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: UGA students complain about bat infestation in campus dorm

The bats were removed, according to the school. The area was reportedly locked and inaccessible to students.

Bats have been a problem at the “O-House” for about three weeks after entering through a roofline opening. Students told Atlanta News First the bats have been seen squeezing into rooms and clinging to hallway walls. At one point, university housing closed the building’s stairwell after reports of bats.

Several kinds of bats are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act due to declining populations, so they can’t be killed or hurt upon removal. UGA hasn’t shared what bat species are in the Oglethorpe House, but it noted that the bats are protected and will be humanely extracted.

Some students are frustrated with the long process.

“I don’t know how exterminating works, but I feel like there could be more done,” Ella Jones, a UGA freshman, said. “But they have certain qualifications they can’t do because they’re a protected species. But I go to school here, am I not a protected species? I sure hope I am.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Exterminators return to clear bat-infested UGA dorm

In its statement, UGA said students may still see bats because they are small and can easily hide. Pest control is monitoring the building daily.

“We continue to advise students not to touch a bat if they see one, but rather to notify the staff so it can be safely removed by the pest control contractors,” UGA said.

The school also sent a text on Wednesday instructing residents to take a Department of Public Health survey.

The Northeast Health District said it is coordinating with the Georgia Department of Public Health’s epidemiology unit and with the University of Georgia to carry out a “risk assessment.”

“Whether post‐exposure rabies vaccination would be recommended for an individual depends on a number of factors, and completing the assessment will allow Public Health officials to make recommendations and connect individuals to appropriate care, if needed, based on their specific circumstances,” the district wrote in a statement.

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