Florida therapist discovers over 50 bats in her office
A mental health counselor in Seminole County, Florida, discovered over 50 bats in her office last Tuesday, forcing her to relocate due to the state’s maternity season laws that protect bats.
“I stopped counting around 50 bats. They were in the toilet, they were in the sink. I have little ballet flats I keep in my office; they were in my shoes. They were everywhere,” said Shantala Boss, a licensed mental health therapist.
Boss has since moved her office across the street, with a sign on her door notifying clients of the change.
“Our hands are kind of tied as far as the bats go, but they (the landlord) did relocate me and made sure no clients were in there with any bats, so that was a good thing,” Boss said.
Florida is home to 13 species of bats, and during maternity season — which runs from April 16 to Aug. 14 — it is illegal to remove them, even if they are in your space.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, “attempts to harm or harass bats with lights, sounds, or toxic substances are not allowed. The capture and relocation of bats is also prohibited and ineffective.”
Boss said her landlord took steps to address the situation.
“We did have someone come in and put cones in the roof — so the cones help the bats leave the roof, but they can’t come back in, because we’re trying to get them out,” she said.
Boss confirmed her former office is now empty and bat-free, and she expressed gratitude for her landlord’s assistance in relocating her workspace.