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[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.