University of Georgia Dorms Infested With Bats, Students Express Concern

University of Georgia (UGA) students were met with a disturbing sight upon their return to campus as their dormitories at Ogelthorpe House were found to be infested with bats.

Ogelthorpe House, a residence hall situated near the heart of the school's central campus in Athens, houses approximately 500 students, with room and board costs ranging from $3,300 to $3,800, as per Daily Mail.

Bats Infest University of Georgia Dorms

PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-ENVIRONMENT-BATS — (Photo : MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)
Horseshoe bats are pictured inside an abandoned Israeli army outpost next to the Jordan River in the occupied West Bank, on July 7, 2019. - The former Israeli military outpost on a dusty, yellow marlstone hill in the West Bank has become a man-made bat cave. It is one of a dozen or so mini-fortresses that were built among the hills above the Israel-Jordan border after the 1967 Six-Day War and abandoned by Israel following a 1994 peace accord between the countries.

Reports from residents indicate that they have observed numerous sizable bats for the past fortnight, with several sharing images and videos of the winged creatures online.

The university administration asserts that they have been actively addressing the issue for the past two weeks, having enlisted the services of pest control experts in an attempt to eliminate the infestation. As recently as Thursday, an additional 30 bats, which are protected under Georgia state law, were discovered inside the dormitory premises.

Ella Sather, a student, expressed her concerns to FOX 5, stating, "It's very alarming... There was one in the lobby, and it was like on the floor, and then all of a sudden it just got up and started flying at me, so I ran back to my room." She added, "It's been an adventure."

University officials informed FOX 5 that pest control measures are actively underway to tackle the infestation. Linda Casper, the executive director of university housing, informed the station that the bats were gaining entry through the roof into a mechanical space containing boilers. "We believe they were entering through that space and then getting in the stairwells through that opening," she explained.

Casper mentioned that pest control specialists have been methodically removing the flying mammals and sealing off entry points where they were able to infiltrate. "We expected it would take about three days to remove all the bats because the bats are so small, and they're very good at hiding," she remarked, noting that approximately 30 more bats were discovered on Thursday, with pest control teams remaining on standby, according to Fox News.

Pest Control Tackles Bat Infestation

"We continue to tell students, 'Please, do not touch the bats,'" she emphasized. "'If you see one, please contact the desk or call the RAs.'" Bats hold protected status in Georgia, adding complexity to the situation.

James Hataway, representing UGA Marketing & Communications, disclosed in a statement that Aardvark Exterminating, a local pest control service engaged by University Housing, found "approximately 25 to 30 bats congregating in the rafters of a rooftop mechanical space" on Thursday. The bats were promptly removed, and residents were notified via email.

Previous communications to O-House residents highlighted efforts by pest control companies to seal off the bats' access points over the weekend, although a few sightings were still expected. Hataway noted that each night since, additional bats have been removed from the building. It is believed that the group discovered on Thursday had been present in the building all along. While the area where the bats were found is inaccessible to students, multiple videos of the bat congregation circulated on social media.

Hataway stated, "Facilities staff consistently adhere to cleaning procedures to address potential transmission of infectious diseases through surfaces in areas exposed to bats... All cleaning procedures will adhere to the guidelines provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH)". University Housing is strongly encouraging O-House residents to participate in the DPH survey, which assesses the possibility of encountering bats and rabies, The Red & Black reported.