Goin' Batty Around Here!!! Yikes! (And an Update!)

As if I didn't have enough to keep up with around here, a guest showed up today that I hope doesn't plan to stick around.
I was coming up the stairs and noticed something lying in the corner of the landing. In the corner as it was, wasn't all that odd. Izzy is always bringing home his prize catches. Most of the time, however, he brings them all the way up the stairs and presents them to me at the doorway. He never leaves his treasures on the landing. And this creature was black. At first, I thought it was a shrew or a mole or a tiny field mouse. But again, it was black. Hmm. I leaned closer to investigate and it moved. I then saw the creepy, crawly, boney looking wing/arms. It was a bat.
I ran and got Wayne, telling him to come and look at the bat on the landing. He came, reluctantly, following behind me saying, "It's not a bat Anne. It's got to be a....." and he trailed off. (I marked the following statement on the calendar, as men are NEVER wrong.) He then said, "Well, it IS a bat!" WOW!
I asked Wayne to get him off, and he said no because they eat bugs. Frogs eat bugs too but you don't hear creepy vampire frog stories.
So, the bat won.
For now.
He/She's still laying in the same exact spot. Is that because that's what bats "do" in the daytime? Or is it sick? It's an oddly interesting creature. I've never seen one up close. As a kid, I remember watching them swarm around the street lights on our street on summer nights. The boys in the neighborhood threw small rocks up and tried to get them to dive at the rocks. (Mean kids, they were!)
I have always heard that bats carry rabies. Is that urban legend or is it true? I did a little bit of research and learned that (hmm) bats aren't usually found on the ground and that they can carry rabies. I also learned that if they're just laying, can't fly well or are in water, they may be sick. Great. I also know they are nocturnal creatures. So is he/she resting, having creepy bat dreams or is this vistor a "problem?" While this adds that much more to the "creep factor" or 'mystique' if you want to get all fancy about the language, I'll have to keep my eye on this thing. Hopefully, when it gets dark, he/she...IT...will stretch and yawn really big and go do what bats do. I did read that they are very helpful creatures in terms of bugs (ok Wayne, you won that one!) and in pollenating plants. Well! I'll be darned. That's a good thing, but...how about pollenating someplace else besides my landing?
Either way, he's welcome there for a day, maybe two, but I'd really prefer that he move on along. And no, I don't care if they are warm blooded. I don't care if they are the only mammal that can fly. I don't care if they nurse their young. They are creepy! Why don't the creepy creatures go to the houses of creepy people? I know a few I could recommend if he/she needs a creepy place to stay!
It's not like I feel like "nurturing" this bat. Perhaps he/she heard I'll take in anything.
I need to amend that. I'll take in MOST anything.
(Except bats!)
Till next time...or the bat gets me, which ever comes first!
Annie...the chicken
BAT UPDATE!
I checked last night after dark for a status on the visitor. It was gone. I was glad. I hurried to check this morning to see if the bat had returned. He had not. Guess he took the hint. However, in all seriousness, now I can say that I was concerned. Bats certainly have their places and are helpful in many ways. There are MANY "no-no's" when coming into close contact with a bat. Since it's summer and kids will be kids...even the adult kind, I thought I'd list a few things that are indeed NO-NO's when you are around a bat.
*NEVER TOUCH A BAT OF ANY KIND WITH BARE HANDS. If you do, you are considered "exposed." The bat must then be collected, tested for rabies and you will have to be tested as well. SO NOT WORTH IT! Don't even poke it to see if it's alive!
*Keep ALL PETS away from the bat. Same rules as above apply. Your pet should be vaccinated, however, both the bat and the pet have to be tested for rabies.
*Bat scratches and even BITES are hardly detectable by sight. Most of the time, a visual inspection is not enough to determine if you have been bitten or scratched. Seek medical attention right away...and once again, catch the bat to turn it in for testing.
*When you must catch a bat, use a net or a bucket or something to place over the bat. Slide cardboard or some sturdy material underneath. WEAR HEAVY GLOVES WHEN DOING THIS!! Transfer the bat into a glass container, sealing immediately, then place that container into a heavy duty Ziplock bag for added protection. Get the bat into the hands of health professionals FAST.
*Ideally, IF you think you have come into physical contact in any way with a bat, call your local health department. MAKE THEM TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY. If they do not, go over their heads. If you are afraid to try to catch the bat yourself, insist that a wildlife officer come to retrieve the bat.
While I wanted to write a post with a bit of humor because of the various and sundry creatures that seem to show up here, I did want to update and let readers know that bats can be very dangerous. As I said in the post, bats are nocturnal, so they WILL SLEEP in the day time. Generally, they like to be hidden. The area of the landing is shady and this was a smaller bat, probably very young, so he probably thought he was doing what he was supposed to do. Additionally, there are bugs that flock around the security light on the stairs, so I'm sure he was having a bug buffet.
If you have small children or have friends who do, this might be an opportune time to educate (even adults) on bats. They are furry, and to a kid, kind of cute...even to the curious adult. But DO NOT TOUCH THEM!! No sense getting yourself into a world of discomfort as a result.
*Do your reading on bats. They do good things, but are better left alone. If you see a sick, odd acting, laying or dead bat, use the steps above to collect it OR call your local wildlife agency to come and handle it. In fact, that's what I advise. No sense taking unnecessary risks!!
There are many creatures all around us that DO have benefits, but CAN hurt you. I'm not a fan of snakes, but I know they too have their place here on this farm. "All creatures great and small, the good Lord made them all." I'll add to that..."even the creepy ones! Just be careful and sensible and informed! Be safe and remember the animals that share the planet with us. They don't need to be killed, they need to be left alone to do their jobs.
Till next time!
Annie

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