Imagine waking up to unwanted guests while staying in a hotel. A ‘not so’ unusual incident occurred in a 3-star hotel in Plzen, Czech Republic, when a couple woke up to unexpected guests the next day. They have left the windows open before they retired at night for the cool breeze to come in. Additionally, they also left the bedroom door leading to the corridor ajar due to the sweltering heat. Unfortunately, when they woke up the following day, uninvited guests had come inside the room and left the couple dumbfounded.
The unnamed couple was staying in Room 212 of the Art Nouveau Sloven Hotel. Before they went to bed to retire for the night, they left the windows open. When they woke up the next day, they were mortified to see 256 Soprano bats sleeping on the ceiling, the walls, and the curtains. However, another 11 were found dead on the floor. The frightened couple immediately went to the reception and reported the incident. An animal rescuer, Radek Zemen, and the female receptionist entered the couple’s room and dealt with the bats.
Fact: The Soprano bats are the smallest bats living in the Czech Republic.
Karel Makoň, an animal rescue center spokesman, said that the incident of the bats breaking into the room was the couple’s fault. He pointed out that the hotel staff had placed a notice in 3 different languages in each room as a reminder to guests not to leave their windows open as bats may fly in due to migration purposes, but most guests took the notices for granted.
“A record 256 live bats and 11 dead bats were found in room No. 212, where irresponsible guests and subsequently the maid left the window open,” Karel said. “The door to the hall was also left open. The receptionist showed us a leaflet in three international languages saying that guests should not leave the windows open as there is a risk of a bat invasion. But as you can see, unfortunately, it’s in vain, it’s in vain, it’s in vain. Even though the pamphlet is in every room. Even the maid didn’t bother to close the door and windows, so dozens of the flying mammals could move in easily.”
He added: “As long as the warm weather lasts, you have to expect an uninvited bat visit. The moment it gets noticeably colder, the bats will move to other locations.”
For many years, Czech Republic authorities have warned local residents of bat invasions during August and September. Plzen has been known to be in the middle of the bat migration route, so these critters may enter any windows to homes or apartments in the area as a stopping point. Last year, search and rescue personnel found a total of 1,306 bats in apartments and hotel rooms between August and September.
The organization said: “Since bats are able to enter your apartment even through a window, the easiest solution is to close the windows completely at night.”
Images credits: © Ed Wight for DailyMail UK
