Caught on Camera: Bat infestation at south side apartment complex, residents claim management is ignoring the problem

SAN ANTONIO — San Antonians are no strangers to bats but one south side renter is fed up with an infestation at her apartment complex.

She claims bats have been making their way inside units and the complex is not addressing the issue.

The renter wanted to remain anonymous. She sent KENS 5 a video Monday night, showing a swarm of bats making their way inside an apartment building at Hillside Manor Apartments off Koehler Court.

“They come out almost every night,” she said. “They fly super low, there’s at least 50 a night that can fly out of the wall.”

She said her husband has had to help two of their neighbors capture bats inside their apartments.

“She has like a pull-out couch and she pulled it out and it was right there,” the renter said.

She said her husband managed to get them inside jars and bins then set them free. She said her neighbor complained to the apartment management, but they met her with pushback.

“They told her, well they’re endangered, we can’t remove them from their habitat, I don’t understand that, because that’s where we live,” She said.

State and Federal laws protect bats from being killed. However, they can be relocated. Daniel Watson is the president of Critter One, a wildlife removal company.

“Our process is non-invasive in the fact that we just install what we call a one-way exit tunnel,” Watson said.

Watson said it is important to let professionals handle flying mammals. According to the CDC, bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in the country. However, Watson said people should be more concerned about their feces.

“It could become harmful respiratory wise to people way more so than having rabies and attacking you,” Watson said.

The resident said she cannot afford to move so she is relying on the complex to take action and call for professional help.

“It’s like an eerie feeling that bats can be anywhere in your apartment at any time,” She said.

KENS 5 has attempted multiple times to reach the property owner of Hillside Manor but has not heard back.