An Uninvited Guest
 

Look who showed up at my house today:


http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...nd2002/010.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...nd2002/009.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...nd2002/007.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...nd2002/006.jpg

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.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

He reminds me of Kelmac but with hair ;)

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

man that thing looks nasty.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

That's as wrong as two boys in bed.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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 :tu

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

I think it's cute!

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

That's been my experience as well. :2

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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...

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

Where is Robin?????

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

Wow. My Mother in law gets around!

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

All good! The bat is gone now that it's dark.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

Let us know if he returns in the morning.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

Holy relatives that finally left Batman!

I think he got tired of waiting for the door to the batcave to open.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

Bats are freaking creepy.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

Just get a bat house and put it on the other side away from the door.

Like Jim said they are good to have around.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

:r:r

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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 :D.

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.

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

Still gone this morning. All good!

Re: An Uninvited Guest
 

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.