Anyone feeling Batty?

[J-P]

Flutter and I had a conversation about my seeing a wasp / hornet this early in the spring. I did see other insects out there and the red squirls are out and chattering.

Here is an unexpected visitor, right outside my computer room The cat alerted me to it. Very cool to watch this close, streaching its wings etc.

Edit 1:00 PM outside temp of 6 degrees C

[LilGreenPuffer]

Cool!!!

[J-P]

Yea ... I'm not listening to that silly groundhog anymore!

[Pufferfreak42]

Bats are so cool. I don't care what people say, most have the cutest faces, similar to dogs in my opinion.

[J-P]

I have 2 bat houses on the property that went unused. We RARELY see them. This is my 3rd in 4 years. Personally, I hope we become festooned with thim

It will help with the Bancroft Airforce (mosquitoes)

[pufferpuggirl]

I went to a bat presentation once where they had different types of bats. The Australian fruit bat is quite big, not sure if it's the biggest, but they do look alot like dogs, I have to agree with Pufferfreak42.
When I was growing up you'd hear horror stories about bats, but I've learned that they are really very afraid of humans and one bat can wipe out over 600 mosquitoes in one night -- so in my opinion, they are a most welcome little critter.
I am surprised to see that one in the photo out in the cold though.
I have a sign that says "Every Batty's Welcome", actually brought it with me from Florida to England, as I liked it that much!
Yep, I love bats!

[J-P]

disease, parasites etc... no different than any other wild animal. The worst stories I have been told was of Ticks and Mites on deer that can cause a human to go into a coma ...

I am suprised they let you inport a bat.

I always though the Malaysian flying fox was the largest ... larger than a small dog, but then again what do I know? (answer is: nadda)

[Pufferfreak42]

I forgot all about the mosquito eating bonus. I watched and heard them going after flies and mosquitoes nightly, was pretty cool.

[Flutter]

I bats. Too cute.

[erinmd]

Wow, that's super lucky!!! I've always been told to kill bats if I can reach them because if I can reach them they're probably sick, and if they're sick it's probably rabies...don't care, they're adorable! They were my favorite animals to tend to at a wildlife shelter near my house. Such an awesome thing to see up close! Congrats!

[jus85411]

when me and my friends go night fishing the bats that hang around the river come down and will tap the fishing line. bats are really cool, the bat exhibition was always one of the things i wanted to visit at the zoo when i was younger

[J-P]

Just a quick update regarding bats and the climate:

I was speaking with a lady who lived not to far from me who has 100s of bats on her property. Her husband is finding dozens of dead bats that came out of hybernation too early and end up freezing over night if the temp drops below 0 C.

[Flutter]

That's a huge problem with climate change. They can't handle the temperature swings and unpredictability.

[J-P]

yea, it is strange that after the 10,000 or years or so, you'd think they would cluster again as opposed to finding their own homes when it got cold out

[Flutter]

Well hibernating requires huge physiological changes. You can't just go back and forth depending on the weather.