NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE An uninhabited property at 1118 Dominion Street is harbouring a colony of bats in the attic. A neighbour, who can no longer use their backyard, has observed the bats using about four small entry points and this one shows bat excrement on the siding near the entrance.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
A local property owner is living next to an empty house where bats have dominion and the potential to cause death.
“I feel deflated over a lack of quality of life in my own yard,” said Miranda Broadist who has owned and lived in a house on Dominion Street for the last seven years.
The house next door, 1118 Dominion Street, has always been uninhabited since the Broadists moved in.
Over time more and more bats have set up home.
There are so many bats now they can no longer sit outside in their own yard after dusk.
In the morning they must wipe down all surfaces that have bat excrement on them. (You can see a video on the News’ Facebook page)
Miranda says she is constantly trying to keep her large dog indoors for fear of a bat potentially biting the dog.
There are times they see the bats perched on their vehicle in the driveway.
“It’s demoralizing,” said her husband Matthew Broadist.
For years, the couple would notify bylaw about the state of the neighbouring property, but they eventually gave up because nothing seemed to change, said Miranda.
The news that a man in Vancouver died this week from rabies, after having had contact with a bat on Vancouver Island six weeks prior, has made them particularly aware of the risk.
“This is a serious issue and no one was listening to me,” said Miranda. “(They’re) valuing a derelict and abandoned property more than someone’s life.”
Miranda says a bylaw officer told her this week that they have no right to enter the house and investigate the bat issue.
Someone from Alberta Health Services came around Tuesday evening and said that it was something bylaw would have to address.
Miranda believes there are at least four main entrances that the bats are using to access the attic of the neighbouring house.
One is close to their back yard and the area around the small entry point is covered in bat excrement.
The Broadist know the owners of the property but have been unable to resolve the situation.
“The system is broken. A civilized society should be able to deal with a public health and safety issue,” said Miranda.
In addition of the bats in the property, the yard has a vehicle with a flat wheel and the license plate that indicates it has not been licensed since 2003.
These are typically considered unacceptable under bylaw.
Related:Bylaw has opened 614 property files this month
Bylaw Supt. Heather Trail says she is sincere about addressing the situation the Broadists find themselves in.
“I am deeming that property to be unsightly,” said Trail of the condition of the yard.
When it comes to the bat issue, Trail says bylaw does not have authority to deal with bats because they are not a domesticated animal.
It is the property owners responsibility but there is no bylaw to force them to do so.
However, Trail says she has been talking to other agencies in the city, including Alberta Health Services, fire services, safety code officers, who are planning to meet on site to find a solution.
“I don’t want to leave this family high and dry,” said Trail. “They need to feel supported by this community.”
To avoid this in future it may be necessary to look at a new bylaw that would give the appropriate authority to take action when pests such as gophers, snakes, bats etc. in property are an issue, said Trail.
