A family in Georgia Forced to Flee Their Home Due to Bat Invasion
Isaiah and Monica Grant found themselves in an unthinkable situation when nearly 80 bats invaded their home in Ardsley Park, a quaint suburb three hours from Atlanta. The Georgia Department of Public Health deemed their house an ‘imminent health risk’ on January 29, driving the family out of their rental home.
Monica, who lives with her husband, toddler, and infant, described their ordeal as ‘traumatizing’ in an interview with WSAV. Their first encounter with a bat happened on January 18, but within a couple of days, they found more of the winged creatures fluttering inside their home.
‘Three bats suddenly flew down the stairs while we were sitting in the living room. They began coming through the vents. The kids were already asleep,’ Monica recounted. That was the breaking point for the family.
‘We thought, we’re done, we have to get out of here, something is wrong.’
Since abandoning their home, the Grants have been staying with a neighbor. The owner of the rental property, Cathleen Barela from Property Management Company, spoke with News 3, confirming that the company has been in touch with both the family and Savannah Code Compliance.
‘Code Compliance left a violation notice due to tenant pressure,’ explained Barela.
She went on to say that the notice called for the removal of the bats, and steps were underway to tackle the issue. ‘We acted as any property manager would and addressed it when we were informed,’ she added.
Despite assurances from the property management, the Grant family continues to face challenges. They were all required to get rabies shots immediately, which they have to cover out of their pockets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ‘bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in humans in the United States.’
‘There is no treatment for rabies. Either you get the vaccine, or you don’t survive,’ Monica said worriedly.
Isaiah shared that it is nearly impossible to determine if someone has been bitten by a bat. The family started a GoFundMe page to help cover costs for a new home and their rising medical bills.
‘We have renters insurance, but they told us a bat infestation is not a covered loss,’ Isaiah explained on their fundraising page. ‘Even though the house is declared uninhabitable, it needs a covered loss to file a claim.’
In a lighter vein, he added, ‘Dracula is real, y’all.’
Updating supporters on February 2, Isaiah shared their gratitude for the overwhelming support. They were offered a furnished townhouse to live in temporarily.
‘We’ll be moving into a townhouse for the next month while we figure out our next steps,’ he noted.
Interestingly, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that 16 different species of bats reside in Georgia. Though most bats don’t carry rabies, the CDC points out that it’s impossible to identify an infected bat just by looking at it. Rabies must be tested and confirmed in a lab.
