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Therapist discovers over 50 bats in her office. She wasn't allowed to remove them. Here's why
Florida law barred the therapist from removing the colony, and her landlord moved her practice after she counted more than 50 bats.
Mental health therapist Shantala Boss discovered over 50 bats in her Seminole County, Florida, office on Tuesday, forcing her to relocate due to state maternity season protection laws.
Florida is home to 13 species of bats, and during maternity season running April 16 to August 14, state law prohibits removing them even from private spaces.
Boss described the infestation, stating, "I stopped counting around 50 bats." The animals were found in her toilet, sink, and shoes, making the office unusable.
With assistance from her landlord, Boss moved her practice across the street and posted a sign on her original office door notifying clients of the relocation.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warns, "The capture and relocation of bats is also prohibited and ineffective." The office remains inaccessible until maternity season ends in August.