LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — The Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities building in Lewis Center was temporarily closed after inspectors found what they believed to be a colony of bats inside.
Board of Developmental Disabilities Superintendent Kristine Hodge told 10TV on Thursday that a couple of employees noticed two bats flying inside the building for several days. An inspector was called to investigate, and the building was closed to evaluate.
During the evaluation, it was determined that the colony, which was previously thought to consist of 100 bats, was only 15 bats at most.
The Delaware Public Health District deemed the building safe for re-entry on Monday.
Wildlife experts will soon start the process of safely removing any bats from the building, a release says.
The bats are believed to be big brown bats, which are protected by state law, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Because the bats are state-protected, Hodge said the earliest they can be removed is Aug. 1. According to ODNR, there are two restricted periods for bat exclusion in the state. One of them is May 16 through July 31 when five or more bats are present.
Hodge said the process will take time as once the bats are removed, county officials will work to sanitize the building.
“While the presence of bats in our administrative building is an inconvenience, DCBDD recognizes the importance of protecting these creatures, many of which are threatened or endangered,” officials said in a statement.
The Delaware County Commissioners Office helped put building employees in alternative workspaces while the situation was handled.
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