An Uninvited Guest

[Starscream]

Look who showed up at my house today:










I'm a little bit uneasy about letting the kids out to play today, since it's hanging right above the garage door, and that's where they like to play.
Anybody have any more info on what type of bat this is? Looks like a Big Brown bat to me, which is common in NC.

[Don Fernando]

He reminds me of Kelmac but with hair

man that thing looks nasty.

[kelmac07]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

He reminds me of Kelmac but with hair

That's as wrong as two boys in bed.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

He reminds me of Kelmac but with hair

[King James]

As far as I know, bats can carry rabies but if you don't bother the bat it likely won't bother you. If anything, bats are good to have around as they will help to take care of mosquito problems

[SvilleKid]

Originally Posted by King James

As far as I know, bats can carry rabies but if you don't bother the bat it likely won't bother you. If anything, bats are good to have around as they will help to take care of mosquito problems

Good advice. But I'd add: when you observe animals behaving out-of-ordinary, especially rabies-prone animals, its best to be very wary. And a bat in the open, in bright light isn't normal behavior. Definitely leave it alone.

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

Good advice. But I'd add: when you observe animals behaving out-of-ordinary, especially rabies-prone animals, its best to be very wary. And a bat in the open, in bright light isn't normal behavior. Definitely leave it alone.

Yep. I figure it's above my garage door for one of two reasons:
either the change in weather last night (quick storms rolling in and cooled off really quickly)
or it could be rabid.
If it's gone by this evening or in the morning, I'm assuming it's the change in weather and couldn't make it home. If it's still there, well...

[68TriShield]

Originally Posted by King James

As far as I know, bats can carry rabies but if you don't bother the bat it likely won't bother you. If anything, bats are good to have around as they will help to take care of mosquito problems

Yep,it looks like the kind of Bat that eats a few thousand insects a night

[Steve]

Originally Posted by King James

As far as I know, bats can carry rabies but if you don't bother the bat it likely won't bother you. If anything, bats are good to have around as they will help to take care of mosquito problems

Amen about eating bugs!

We ahve a ton of them around here, and I have had them buzz me while walking the dog several times over the years. They tend to turn off thier echo location when they are in a familiar area unless they are hunting. Nothing like a peaceful walk with a nice cigar and ending up with a little fuzz ball in your face .

Generally though, if you leave them alon, they will leave you alone. If you want to have some fun, whatch for them flying around at dusk and toss a small branch or leaf (or if you aren't squemish, a fresh caught bug). It's amazing how fast those little guys can home in on a target.

[Silound]

Originally Posted by steve

Amen about eating bugs!

We ahve a ton of them around here, and I have had them buzz me while walking the dog several times over the years. They tend to turn off thier echo location when they are in a familiar area unless they are hunting. Nothing like a peaceful walk with a nice cigar and ending up with a little fuzz ball in your face .

Generally though, if you leave them alon, they will leave you alone. If you want to have some fun, whatch for them flying around at dusk and toss a small branch or leaf (or if you aren't squemish, a fresh caught bug). It's amazing how fast those little guys can home in on a target.

Man, I lie in Louisiana, so I have my share of bugs at night. I was at one of the local Wal-Marts one night at about 3am buying up some stuff and loading it into the boat to go on a fishing trip. So smart me, I parked under one of the big floodlights so I could see to stow my purchases properly, and went inside. Came back outside and there was batchit ALL over everything! They were zipping across the parking lot from a couple trees and would buzz the light pole catching the bugs swarming around the light. Eat a bug, take a dump.

Was really cool to watch for a while once I got away from it. They're so amazingly stealthy and fast it's almost hard to follow them.

[688sonarmen]

I would not worry about it, we had bats in our sheds for years with no issues and it takes quite a bit to disturb them.

[Mikepd]

Call your local animal control if it makes you uneasy and isn't leaving.

[Mr. Ed]

I think it's cute!

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by Mikepd

Call your local animal control if it makes you uneasy and isn't leaving.

I plan on it if it isn't gone after tomorrow. I figured with the weather change, he just didn't quite make it home last night. If he's still there tonight or in the morning, there may be a problem.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by King James

As far as I know, bats can carry rabies but if you don't bother the bat it likely won't bother you. If anything, bats are good to have around as they will help to take care of mosquito problems

Originally Posted by 688sonarmen

I would not worry about it, we had bats in our sheds for years with no issues and it takes quite a bit to disturb them.

That's been my experience as well.

[OLS]

It could also be affected by that white fungus, although it does not look like it, but it has made their behavior
very erratic, made them so agitated and nervous that they come out of their dens at the wrong times and
waste valuable energy. It could be resting and hoping for night and to be left alone to re-charge batts,
no pun intended.

[Ogre]

Where is Robin?????

[cmitch]

Wow. My Mother in law gets around!

[markem]

You can google "bat box" and put one up for him in a tree or on a fence post. They are flying insect feeders not usually active during the day. We have some bat boxes in the neighborhood and they seem to get used.