July 27th, 2005 - Bats in the belfry…no, the library
I had some excitement when I got to work this morning. I unlocked the door and a bat cam tumbling out. It seemed to have gotten caught when the door was closed, which was late last night. So a long time for the poor thing to be stuck. It seemed unable to fly. At first, it just tried to flop around, and it was on its back. I stood there trying to decide whether to grab it by a wing–seemed like a bad idea in case I hurt it further or it bit me*. It was in the way of the door closing, so I had to stand there holding the door open. I decided to use my bike helmet to push it out of the way. As I figured that out, the little guy flipped himself over and managed to hop a little. Luckily, he turned towards the inside, and hopped over the doorway. I closed the door and grabbed a wastebasket and set it on over him. I left my belongings and ran to my office to write a note. (After searching thru the backpack to find NO PEN.) I didn’t want someone else to pick up the basket and either injure the bat or themselves. I collected my things and went back to my office to call Facilities Management. I suspect he will have to be killed, but maybe they will release him or take him to a rehab center. I doubt it, but I sure hope so. I like bats; they are so beneficial for the environment, particularily when they eat mosquitoes!
* If it has rabies, I’m in the right place for a cure. The only person to have survived rabies without getting the shots lives in Fond du Lac. Not that I want to go through the hell she went through. She probably will return to school this year–more than a year after the bite. She was in a coma for a long time, too.