A Seminole County mental health counselor discovered over 50 bats in her office last Tuesday, forcing her to relocate due to Florida’s maternity season laws that protect bats.

Bat Maternity Season

Bat maternity season runs from April 16 to August 14, during which it is illegal to remove them, even if they are in your space.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, attempts to harm or harass bats with lights, sounds, or toxic substances are not allowed. The capture and relocation of bats is also prohibited and ineffective.

Shantala Boss, a licensed mental health therapist, said her landlord took steps to address the situation. We did have someone come in and put cones in the roof — so the cones help the bats leave the roof, but they can’t come back in, because we’re trying to get them out, she said.

Boss confirmed her former office is now empty and bat-free, and she expressed gratitude for her landlord’s assistance in relocating her workspace.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.