Griffin family forced to share apartment with batty roommates

GRIFFIN - Twynsia McDowell and her three small children thought they were the only ones living in their apartment, then the bats showed up. <br> <br> Nearly two months after McDowell and her family moved into the Griffin Housing Authority property, dozens of black fruit bats appeared in her children&#39;s bedroom, in her bathroom drain and in her vents. <br> <br> ``In the last couple of days we have removed 13 bats,&#39;&#39; McDowell said. ``Three of them were up under the refrigerator today. I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw that.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The bats are known to carry rabies, West Nile virus and histoplasmosis, but the animals are on the endangered species list and are protected by law. If a business kills the bats, the fine is $20,000; for an individual, the fine is $5,000. <br> <br> McDowell says since the bats started flying around her house, her children Marcus, 2, Tyza, 4, and Marquasha, 6 have broken out in painful bumps. Doctors are not sure what the children have, but have prescribed an antibiotic. <br> <br> The bats&#39; saliva or fecal matter, called guano, can trigger allergic reactions or respiratory problems. McDowell&#39;s daughter Tyza has asthma. <br> <br> Housing authority executive director Millie Holliday said she is working to address the issue. <br> <br> ``We cannot kill them. You can only catch them and let them go. We&#39;re doing everything according to the law that we can do,&#39;&#39; Holliday said. <br> <br> But McDowell said the bats simply fly back into the apartment. She sealed off all her vents to keep them out, and they still manage to get inside. <br> <br> The housing authority said the bats cannot be completely removed until the end of their mating season, which started in May and ends around Aug. 15. <br> <br> McDowell said she does not have that long to wait. <br> <br> ``What&#39;s my kids supposed to do until then?&#39;&#39; she said.