On Bats in the Neighbourhood

[danieldwilliam]

Walking back from dad's a few nights ago with MLW and the Captain. One of them caught sight of a small shape moving on the ground. Suggested it might be a rat. A closer look revealed it to be a bat crawling along the ground. No idea why.

Mulling over what to do with it when the Captain said "If we've learned anything over the last few years it's not to get too close to bats."

So I left it to its own devices.

Comments

[dewline]

A fair concern on the Captain's part.

I've also gotten slightly addicted to videos from facilities devoted to caring for injured and orphaned bats, so there's another concern I have alongside that.

[danieldwilliam]

I was genuinely sympathetic to it but did not fancy getting scratched and had no idea what happens if you handle bats.

[mountainkiss]

Have you actually learned this through direct experience?

[danieldwilliam]

Depends on your views on zoonotic diseases.

[mountainkiss]

Fair comment. Either way it is a great one-liner.

[danieldwilliam]

As he said it I was desperately trying to remember what I knew about bats and rabies.

[mountainkiss]

I thought there was no indigenous rabies in the UK - am I out of date?

[danieldwilliam]

There is apparently more than one type of rabies. "Classic rabies" which dogs get which we don't have in Great Britain and a differenttype that British bats do occasionally get.

I think bats in other countries may also get classic rabies but I don't know.

[mountainkiss]

Every day a school day.

[andrewducker]

Sensible. Even if I do feel a bit bad for the bat.

(Which is to say that I think you did the right thing.)