Wow what great information.... I remember bats flying around us at middle high camp when we showed movies on those dreaded 16 mm projectors upstairs in the activity hall... We were on their turf and they reminded us for about 2 hours...lol
Oh -- yes! Indeed we were the intruders! Wonder if they enjoyed the film? 16mm...wow, times sure have changed on that score. :) Thanks for sharing, Barry.
Well, now we all do! 😅 I know my rabbit trails can be a little wacky, but I truly love the deep dive curiosity that drives them. Thanks for reading, Linda.
Like Barry, I love the information...who knew? I must admit that due to encounters as a child, running down our driveway after dark with bats swooping by the nearest light post, I was petrified. Now not so much! Thanks for opening my eyes to the positive aspects of these creatures. God made them too!!
As much as I've admired them over the years, I learned much more than I already knew. One of the perks of the work. 😂 Appreciate the comment, Carolyn, as always.
I can see how much you enjoyed writing this--the writing got me to the end of this one. I get what you are saying about bats--I really do!--and they still make me shiver. It's ridiculous; I've hardly ever seen a bat. Old prejudices are hard to eradicate, aren't they?
I'm so sorry if I freaked you out, Rita. Maybe, as you reflect on some of what was shared in this essay your brain will be better equipped to make an opening for new ways of thinking. At any rate, I appreciate you sticking it out despite the aversion. I was pretty sure I'd touch nerves for more than a few. Living life on the edge, that's me! LOL!
I don't know if I'll be able to get past my aversion to bats. I don't know how you sat down on a toilet next to one! And I know the pregnancy urgency 😂 But I'm a big wimp about such things. I'm doing better this week than I was last week, but chafing a bit at my limitations. When I'm not freaking out about events in the world. Sigh.
BUT THEY'RE SO CUTE!!! 😁 Seriously, I've never been particularly squeamish, but back in the farming days, I had little choice. It was a lifestyle, you know? Lots of opportunities to stretch beyond my comfort zones.
I know that feeling of being mentally eager to do more than the body is ready to take on. Especially when it provides a diversion from other sources of angst. Take care. There is goodness, still.
Lorraine, I've had such terrible experiences with sticky traps in general, whether the kind that dangles from the ceiling, or the kind that lives on the floor and is designed for mice or insects. They're the WORST, most inhumane things ever! I'm glad we both know better now.
Thanks for the birthday wishes for the brother. And thanks for reading and commenting!
I get the impression you handle your own version of startling and scary on a pretty regular basis, Amy. You might surprise yourself! Thanks for the lovely comment, and if you ever get the privilege of seeing a bat, I hope some of these ideas will come back to mind. 🧡
I never realised that bats have such individual faces nor that they can be so tiny. Super post. I've been watching Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's 'Hugh's Wild West' set in the west country of the UK and bats of all kinds feature. They're actually beautiful. Now I want to catch a view of some here at dark. Thank you, Elizabeth.
My hunch, Prue, is that you'll have no trouble spotting them, with your limited light pollution, and, I should think, abundance of insects. And you have flying foxes in Tasmania, right? Though perhaps not where you are? Do keep me posted!
Hi Elizabeth. No we don't have flying foxes in Tas. Nor fruit bats. Only by sheer accident and the bio-security agencies watch out for the second in case it migrates to our island state and takes up a dez.rez in the profitable horticultural industries.
But we do have 8 endemic bat species from small to larger and if I think on Covid lockdowns when husband and self would walk the deserted village at night, we'd see the occasional tiny darting black-than-black shape, which I'm guessing would be the micro bats.
Once the end of daylight-saving occurs (another 3 weeks), I shall go into full bat-watching mode!
I need to share this with my bat-phobic neighbors. There is so much to appreciate ,if not downright love about bats. Thank you Elizabeth, for the great read
Thank you, Melody. I would love to think something might help change their minds, though I know better than to hold my breath about that. A former neighbor of ours, an older woman who lived alone, had bats in her no-longer-functional chimney. We watched them pour out at dusk each night. We never mentioned it to her, because they were doing no harm and we were sure they'd meet an undesirable end if they were discovered.
Sounds like my neighbors, except they know where they hibernate, and don’t care about them, but do everything they can to keep them out ( including lethal means) I have tried to get them to at least live in peace with them , but phobias win out …sigh
I wonder if professional wildlife folks would come in to help relocate them and exclude future colonies? https://batworld.org/local-rescue/ Worth a try? 😟
What a wonderful gift Elizabeth! Belated thanks are in order, along with some context. My fascination with bats has a backstory and a bit of sentimentality, so please indulge. During summer visits to our grandparents' home in eastern N.C. your pre-teen brother and cousins found creative ways to entertain ourselves. Among other escapades, we caught (and released) bumble bees in our bare hands, a trick our dad showed us; played games in an abandoned school bus; and told ghost stories in a real underground bomb shelter. At dusk one of our few options was throwing rocks at bats flying overhead. (Spoilier alert: Our aim was a joke and bats fly like Top Gun pilots, only better.) We loved watching them dart toward the projectiles, possibly sensing an insect, only to veer off a split second later. Decades of summers later, we sit our our rock-free porch for the twilight ritual, as the dayshift sea birds head home, soon to be followed by the the nightshift bats , in infinite numbers, seeking their daily fare in the thick river air. The fascination has remained constant.
I had forgotten the bumblebee story -- and now want to be reminded of the trick (something about the ones with white faces...??). These are such glorious memories, Rob, and I am taking sweet pleasure in knowing that the two of us now have similar twilight rituals. By the way, in my research for this essay, I read about the not uncommon tendency for humans to get a kick out of throwing rocks at bats in flight. As you discovered, there is virtually zero chance of hitting one. Here's to our bat friends, and all the ways they enhance our days! Happy birthday, dear brother.
“The wow-factor with bats is pretty much pegged at the ceiling.” Puns appreciated. I feel like you and writer Mary Roach should be friends. Also, thanks for teaching me about bats’ x15 metabolism and anti inflammatory response. The people interested in bats are also interesting. I met a man named Steve Goodman once who I’m pretty sure decided to study bats instead of becoming a sculpture artist. Maybe one day he or someone will create beautiful bat sculptures. I feel like the oldest documented Brandt’s bat deserves one. And the speed record setting Mexican free-tailed one too. Herlihy’s photos (and shared info for this post) are great!
Will you think less of me if I admit that particular pun was totally unintentional? All the research and writing must have had me in full-on bat mode. 🤣 I'd love the chance at hanging out with Mary Roach, but something tells me I might have to do more than appreciate her books. Ironically, I've not read "Bonk," which might be the one this essay aligns with best.
You should 100% find Steve Goodman and plant that sculpture idea in his brain. I read that the 41-year old Brandt's bat was rediscovered in hibernation, and all I could think was, "Seriously??! Let the poor old guy SLEEP!"
Devin Herlihy is a font of information. Feel free to reach out to her if you want to explore further (though I secretly want to be a fly on the wall of that email, too).
Great comment, Erik. Thanks for reading, and for the shared enthusiasm!
What an interesting ride! Where I am, down under, bats resemble large birds flying through the night sky. With Australia hosting some of the largest bat species in the world, I often see the fuzzy creates shoot above me with staggering wingspans of up to a metre (3.3 feet) long!
You MUST get video footage of that sometime, Rachel. I love that you get to see them. They don't call them "flying foxes" for nothing, right? Wow! Thanks for sharing that.
This is absolutely FASCINATING, Elizabeth - and wow, I had no idea there were so many species of bats! I've come across bats in unexpected places a couple of times in recent years - it was a surprise to find one in our hotel bedroom, for instance! Jim took a video of it in slow motion, which makes it look really sinister (which it wasn't - we loved having our own hotel bat!). 🤣
Oh, I'd love to see that video! Any idea how it came to find its way into your hotel room, or what kind of bat it was?
Since you are both fans, perhaps you'll enjoy this two-part podcast on one of my favorites: Ologies, by Alie Ward. I found it totally delightful and very informative.
It was an ancient old building, and to be honest there were probably all sorts of things other than bats lurking in dark corners! 👀 It was a tiny little thing, so probably a common pipistrelle.
Wow what great information.... I remember bats flying around us at middle high camp when we showed movies on those dreaded 16 mm projectors upstairs in the activity hall... We were on their turf and they reminded us for about 2 hours...lol
Oh -- yes! Indeed we were the intruders! Wonder if they enjoyed the film? 16mm...wow, times sure have changed on that score. :) Thanks for sharing, Barry.
Wow! Who knew? ♥️
Well, now we all do! 😅 I know my rabbit trails can be a little wacky, but I truly love the deep dive curiosity that drives them. Thanks for reading, Linda.
Like Barry, I love the information...who knew? I must admit that due to encounters as a child, running down our driveway after dark with bats swooping by the nearest light post, I was petrified. Now not so much! Thanks for opening my eyes to the positive aspects of these creatures. God made them too!!
As much as I've admired them over the years, I learned much more than I already knew. One of the perks of the work. 😂 Appreciate the comment, Carolyn, as always.
I can see how much you enjoyed writing this--the writing got me to the end of this one. I get what you are saying about bats--I really do!--and they still make me shiver. It's ridiculous; I've hardly ever seen a bat. Old prejudices are hard to eradicate, aren't they?
I'm so sorry if I freaked you out, Rita. Maybe, as you reflect on some of what was shared in this essay your brain will be better equipped to make an opening for new ways of thinking. At any rate, I appreciate you sticking it out despite the aversion. I was pretty sure I'd touch nerves for more than a few. Living life on the edge, that's me! LOL!
How are you feeling?
I don't know if I'll be able to get past my aversion to bats. I don't know how you sat down on a toilet next to one! And I know the pregnancy urgency 😂 But I'm a big wimp about such things. I'm doing better this week than I was last week, but chafing a bit at my limitations. When I'm not freaking out about events in the world. Sigh.
BUT THEY'RE SO CUTE!!! 😁 Seriously, I've never been particularly squeamish, but back in the farming days, I had little choice. It was a lifestyle, you know? Lots of opportunities to stretch beyond my comfort zones.
I know that feeling of being mentally eager to do more than the body is ready to take on. Especially when it provides a diversion from other sources of angst. Take care. There is goodness, still.
THEY ARE NOT! Which is probably mostly why I am afraid of them. No, I do not like what this says about me. 🙂
"“Next, maybe a course on my own object of fascination: Bats, nature’s own mosquito control.” His birthday was yesterday, and this is my gift to him."
HBD to your bro.
BTW, please NEVER use those wasp sticky traps. They kill bats!! We learned the hard way💔
Lorraine, I've had such terrible experiences with sticky traps in general, whether the kind that dangles from the ceiling, or the kind that lives on the floor and is designed for mice or insects. They're the WORST, most inhumane things ever! I'm glad we both know better now.
Thanks for the birthday wishes for the brother. And thanks for reading and commenting!
Agreed. All the trap things have been horrible. So upsetting.
Thanks for your great posts!
So good.
Thanks, Roe. Always lovely to have you in the community -- you and the bats. 🖤
I've never seen a bat, but there is no way I could have handled that pregnancy moment. Yikes. I hope your brother loves the tribute!
I get the impression you handle your own version of startling and scary on a pretty regular basis, Amy. You might surprise yourself! Thanks for the lovely comment, and if you ever get the privilege of seeing a bat, I hope some of these ideas will come back to mind. 🧡
I never realised that bats have such individual faces nor that they can be so tiny. Super post. I've been watching Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's 'Hugh's Wild West' set in the west country of the UK and bats of all kinds feature. They're actually beautiful. Now I want to catch a view of some here at dark. Thank you, Elizabeth.
My hunch, Prue, is that you'll have no trouble spotting them, with your limited light pollution, and, I should think, abundance of insects. And you have flying foxes in Tasmania, right? Though perhaps not where you are? Do keep me posted!
Hi Elizabeth. No we don't have flying foxes in Tas. Nor fruit bats. Only by sheer accident and the bio-security agencies watch out for the second in case it migrates to our island state and takes up a dez.rez in the profitable horticultural industries.
But we do have 8 endemic bat species from small to larger and if I think on Covid lockdowns when husband and self would walk the deserted village at night, we'd see the occasional tiny darting black-than-black shape, which I'm guessing would be the micro bats.
Once the end of daylight-saving occurs (another 3 weeks), I shall go into full bat-watching mode!
I need to share this with my bat-phobic neighbors. There is so much to appreciate ,if not downright love about bats. Thank you Elizabeth, for the great read
Thank you, Melody. I would love to think something might help change their minds, though I know better than to hold my breath about that. A former neighbor of ours, an older woman who lived alone, had bats in her no-longer-functional chimney. We watched them pour out at dusk each night. We never mentioned it to her, because they were doing no harm and we were sure they'd meet an undesirable end if they were discovered.
Appreciate your comment. Thanks for reading. :)
Sounds like my neighbors, except they know where they hibernate, and don’t care about them, but do everything they can to keep them out ( including lethal means) I have tried to get them to at least live in peace with them , but phobias win out …sigh
I wonder if professional wildlife folks would come in to help relocate them and exclude future colonies? https://batworld.org/local-rescue/ Worth a try? 😟
Thank you for the link and great suggestion! I’ll ask my neighbors if they still have bats .Giving them a humane option may appeal to them ❤️
Keep us posted!
What a wonderful gift Elizabeth! Belated thanks are in order, along with some context. My fascination with bats has a backstory and a bit of sentimentality, so please indulge. During summer visits to our grandparents' home in eastern N.C. your pre-teen brother and cousins found creative ways to entertain ourselves. Among other escapades, we caught (and released) bumble bees in our bare hands, a trick our dad showed us; played games in an abandoned school bus; and told ghost stories in a real underground bomb shelter. At dusk one of our few options was throwing rocks at bats flying overhead. (Spoilier alert: Our aim was a joke and bats fly like Top Gun pilots, only better.) We loved watching them dart toward the projectiles, possibly sensing an insect, only to veer off a split second later. Decades of summers later, we sit our our rock-free porch for the twilight ritual, as the dayshift sea birds head home, soon to be followed by the the nightshift bats , in infinite numbers, seeking their daily fare in the thick river air. The fascination has remained constant.
I had forgotten the bumblebee story -- and now want to be reminded of the trick (something about the ones with white faces...??). These are such glorious memories, Rob, and I am taking sweet pleasure in knowing that the two of us now have similar twilight rituals. By the way, in my research for this essay, I read about the not uncommon tendency for humans to get a kick out of throwing rocks at bats in flight. As you discovered, there is virtually zero chance of hitting one. Here's to our bat friends, and all the ways they enhance our days! Happy birthday, dear brother.
“The wow-factor with bats is pretty much pegged at the ceiling.” Puns appreciated. I feel like you and writer Mary Roach should be friends. Also, thanks for teaching me about bats’ x15 metabolism and anti inflammatory response. The people interested in bats are also interesting. I met a man named Steve Goodman once who I’m pretty sure decided to study bats instead of becoming a sculpture artist. Maybe one day he or someone will create beautiful bat sculptures. I feel like the oldest documented Brandt’s bat deserves one. And the speed record setting Mexican free-tailed one too. Herlihy’s photos (and shared info for this post) are great!
Will you think less of me if I admit that particular pun was totally unintentional? All the research and writing must have had me in full-on bat mode. 🤣 I'd love the chance at hanging out with Mary Roach, but something tells me I might have to do more than appreciate her books. Ironically, I've not read "Bonk," which might be the one this essay aligns with best.
You should 100% find Steve Goodman and plant that sculpture idea in his brain. I read that the 41-year old Brandt's bat was rediscovered in hibernation, and all I could think was, "Seriously??! Let the poor old guy SLEEP!"
Devin Herlihy is a font of information. Feel free to reach out to her if you want to explore further (though I secretly want to be a fly on the wall of that email, too).
Great comment, Erik. Thanks for reading, and for the shared enthusiasm!
Haha, sometimes literally pun not intended ones can be the best, especially if you’re in full on bat mode.
🦇
What an interesting ride! Where I am, down under, bats resemble large birds flying through the night sky. With Australia hosting some of the largest bat species in the world, I often see the fuzzy creates shoot above me with staggering wingspans of up to a metre (3.3 feet) long!
You MUST get video footage of that sometime, Rachel. I love that you get to see them. They don't call them "flying foxes" for nothing, right? Wow! Thanks for sharing that.
This is absolutely FASCINATING, Elizabeth - and wow, I had no idea there were so many species of bats! I've come across bats in unexpected places a couple of times in recent years - it was a surprise to find one in our hotel bedroom, for instance! Jim took a video of it in slow motion, which makes it look really sinister (which it wasn't - we loved having our own hotel bat!). 🤣
Oh, I'd love to see that video! Any idea how it came to find its way into your hotel room, or what kind of bat it was?
Since you are both fans, perhaps you'll enjoy this two-part podcast on one of my favorites: Ologies, by Alie Ward. I found it totally delightful and very informative.
https://www.alieward.com/ologies/chiropterology
It was an ancient old building, and to be honest there were probably all sorts of things other than bats lurking in dark corners! 👀 It was a tiny little thing, so probably a common pipistrelle.
Thanks for the link - I'll check it out! 😘
Maybe the bat was taking care of some of the other things lurking in the dark?
🤣 Gosh, now I'm wondering what was there....!