Apartments: We'll get rid of bats, but not for 3 months | News

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- An apartment tenant who has complained to property management for months about hundreds of bats living inside the walls of his unit is finally getting some relief.

After 10 News did a series of stories on the issue at the Lincoln Shores Apartments, property managers came to David Krug over the weekend and offered to move him into a hotel and pay for it.

A wildlife removal specialist also visited the complex to assess the situation.

"I think they got the message," said Krug, who is staying at the Fairfield Inn on Ulmerton Road. "Hopefully they won't fill that apartment until it's taken care of."

Krug says he's complained about the bats since last July, but nothing was ever done. Since that time, six children living nearby have gotten rabies vaccines after coming in contact with a bat.

"I'm glad I called Channel 10 because, I'll tell you, I don't think anything would happen unless I called Channel 10," Krug said on Monday.

Managers released a statement, explaining, "We believe the issue is isolated to his apartment. Qualified experts will perform the exclusion of the bats...once the protected season is over."

However, because they waited this long, that can't begin until August 15, once bat mating season ends. That's concerning to some of the people living in the building's other 15 units, who are now worried about their health.

"Somebody could really get hurt by that danger.  Yeah, they need to do something about that," said Stacia Ellis.

Krug is being offered a new apartment or the chance to get out of his lease anytime. But he's still frustrated it took so long for action to be taken.

"Why did we have to get Channel 10 out there to get something done?" Krug asked. "That's not right."

One expert told 10 News the bat colony could double in size by the time mating season ends and they can be removed from the building.