We've gone bat sh*t

Post by **bio** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:31 pm

Here at work, we've got a new little friend (at least the smokers do).

A bat has moved into the smoking shed. It first appeared yesterday and the facilities department came out and did a freaky little *OH SHIT, BAT IN MY HAIR* dance as they wacked at it with brooms. It's back again today, and as of yet, no one has notified facilities of it (and I'm cool with that).

The bat in question is a tiny guy. His body is only about 2 inches long.

Rocketdork took the following photos:

baldy · Post by **baldy** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:21 pm

that is too cool, the wildlife over here still excited me!

bugfreezer · Post by **bugfreezer** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:13 pm

Educate your facilities folks that these wee chaps are little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus - death on mosquitoes), and as long they don't mess with it, you guys should be fine - their teeth are too small to break the skin. They can carry rabies, so as long as you look but do not touch (Rabies can be transferred from saliva to open wounds) you should be fine - of course it is the fact that they can carry Rabies that facilities were pry up in arms about it.

Therefore if you guys don't mind sharing the space, stay out from under it (you could end up getting peed and pooped on, and there will be a pile underneath) and otherwise don't mess with the beastie. All should be well.

Man, that is cool!

Moxie · Post by **Moxie** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:49 pm

AWwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!! <3 Look at this little face!

I'm glad I wasn't there when people were whacking at him! It wouldn't be the first time I had gone all psycho on someone for attempting to harm an animal. I have been known to yell at people on the sidewalk to kicking at pigeons.

moe flam · Post by **moe flam** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:57 am

Bats are great! I'll take him home if he gets evicted (well, maybe not). We put out 2 bat houses around our property to encourage them. Death on mosquitoes, as Bugfreezer said.

"... one brown bat can eat up to 3000 mosquitoes each night..."

Deater · Post by **Deater** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:26 pm

Well it appears that our little bad buddy has fled.

I was starting to think that he was getting addicted to the nicotine, and that's why he kept coming back. He must have kicked that habit. Good for him.

bugfreezer · Post by **bugfreezer** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:00 pm

Moxie wrote:I have been known to yell at people on the sidewalk to kicking at pigeons.

They have pigeons in AnchoRage?

Moxie · Post by **Moxie** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:03 pm

Yup. Not as many as we used to, since the city made efforts to get rid of them.

Poor lil guys.

Edit: The yelling at people actually took place in San Francisco, though.