Hundreds of thousands of bats have been invading the small town of Ingham in northern Queensland, Australia, and terrorising residents.

The shocking video, recorded on January 24, shows a massive swarm of bats that once outnumber residents and have caused chaos.

Ingham resident and filmer, Nicole Arnold, told Newsflare: "You have to hold your breath to go outside because of the stench. The bats made a huge mess with their poo on footpaths, buildings, and cars, and noise from them screeching.

"Bats have been returning to the old roost in the middle of town and the council has been out every morning making lots of noise to drive them out of town. Bats have roosted in the botanical gardens for the last four years or so but the past six months the colony just grew and grew to plaque proportions.

"At the moment the bat problem here in Ingham is under control as the council moved them out of the center of town, but now the council just needs to keep them there and are still working to stop bats moving back."

Small town in North Queensland called Ingham taken over by bats. Video taken 24th January 2020

Bats have been returning to the old roost in the middle of town, council have been out every morning making lots of noise to drive them out of town. Living with the bats, you'd have to hold your breath to go outside the stench was unbearable, bat poop on cars frequently, the noise from them screeching. Disruptions to our emergency rescue helicopter, it would not be able to land due to bats filling the sky near the hospital.

Bats have roosted in the botanical gardens for the last 4 yrs or so but the past 6 months the colony just grew and grew to plaque proportions. The local state school has cut down trees because the colony got so big they moved into the trees there which is right next to the hospital. The bats made a huge mess with their poo on footpaths, buildings & cars.

It is so pleasant now they have been moved out of town, now the council just need to keep them there.
Yes definitely under control, council still working to stop bats moving back to the old roost though.

Where the bats use to roost is our war memorial and alot of the trees that were destroyed by the bats were planted in memorium of those soldiers.

Yeah it's a shame but I'm sure the trees will grow back and maybe newlywed couples will be able to having wedding photos taken in the once beautiful botanical gardens as its only a short walk from the Catholic church.