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Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4315
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 1:40 am: | 
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Well, now that we've had the South Orange Police at our house twice tonight, within a five hour or so time frame, I can say we've had our fill of excitement for one night! I arrived home earlier tonight to find my sister and mom hiding in our den. They were pounding on the window trying to get my attention to warn me not to come into the house because there was a bat flying around. Ah, okay. That could explain why the front door was wide open and my cat (who is supposed to be an indoor cat) was sitting on my neighbor's lawn.
A few minutes later a South Orange Police Officer arrives to catch the bat. After looking around the house my mom and sister decided the bat must have flown out the open door like they hoped it would. Officer tells us if it happens to make another appearance don't hesitate to call the police back.
From what my sister told the officer, it seems the bat had been in the house since at least last night because my brother in law heard the cat going crazy as if she was chasing something throughout the night. Considering she does this most mornings with us around, he didn't think much of it. (though he now says he heard 'fluttering noises' last night as well).
"Hmmm, think I'm staying at a friend's," I tell my mom and sister. After being told I'm being silly, I agree to stay home and watch my nephews. Meanwhile, my cat who is still outside, refuses to come in.
After trying for the better part of two hours I give up trying to catch her. For some reason my nephew, who decides to take one last look at the window, sees the kitty on the deck. Somehow he gets her in the house. "Good," I think "Now I can go to sleep..." One of my nephews, who is an anxious kid to begin with, had to be reassured the bat was no longer in the house as well.
Shortly before Midnight I thought I heard screams. Wasn't sure though; perhaps it was a cat? So I listened again. Thought I heard someone yell 'Help!' I got up opened my door to ask my sister if she heard 'that?' As I started to open the door to my sister's room she's yelling in a panic 'The bat's in here! The bat's in here!'
I get back in my room and slam the door shut, as the bat flies out of my sister's room yelling for my mom or brother in law to help us. Once I hear one of them coming I called the police back to ask for help. I think I caught the dispatcher off guard when I'm asking for the police to come back to our house because 'the bat was chasing my sister around the house.'
The police arrived to the bat flying around downstairs, with my mom and brother in law trying to stay out of it's way. I think my brother in law was still trying to hit it with a tennis racket. (the officer earlier tonight told us bats can't see if you hit them with one).
My sister and I stay up stairs, along with one of my nephews, hiding. (somehow the other nephew slept through everything). Every so often the bat flew up here, sending us yelling in fear to our rooms where we slammed the doors behind us. The poor Police Officers spent the better part of twenty minutes catching the bat!
I think it took a combination of hair spray and a broom; but they finally caught the little bugger! Thank gawd they took it with them! We really appreciate the police catching the bat! For some reason I don't think it's in their job despriction as something they have to do, is it? 
I'm sure they were just as concerned about being bit as we were; yet they were trying to catch it while we hid. What are the odds there is more then one bat? About 6-8 months ago the cat cornered what we thought was a mouse in the front hall. It turned out to be a small bat. My brother in law caught it and tossed it outside.
Tonight's bat was as big as the first officer's fist, and that was before it spread it's wings! Is there any such thing as a bat removal service who can assess our house to try to determine how the bat could have gotten in? I think we'd all sleep more soundly if we were assured there were no more bats in the house and the odds of another getting in are slim.
(my heart is still racing from more then a half hour ago!) |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 469
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 6:40 am: |
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JTA-
I beleive the standard protocol is for the Health Dept to have the bat tested for rabies. You ought to make sure that is being done. |
sbenois
Supporter
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 14704
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 7:08 am: |
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For crying out loud it's
KUDOS.
Kiddos are either children or a breakfast cereal. |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5328
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 7:46 am: |
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I thought Kiddos was a Greek island. |
Josh Holtz
Citizen
Username: Jholtz
Post Number: 330
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 8:13 am: |
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I thought Kudos was a milk chocolate-covered granola bar. |
Ace789nj
Citizen
Username: Ace789nj
Post Number: 314
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 8:20 am: |
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I like the peanut butter ones |
Josh Holtz
Citizen
Username: Jholtz
Post Number: 332
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 8:48 am: |
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If you are going to mix peanut butter and milk chocolate just stick to the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Still the best candy IMO. |
Brett Weir
Citizen
Username: Brett_weir
Post Number: 1319
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 9:24 am: |
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Experienced bat hunters know two words:
"TENNIS RACKET" |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 628
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 9:25 am: |
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http://www.bugspray.com/articles98/bats.html
JTA, sorry you had such an ordeal! The above link will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about Bats in homes. They also sell products for DIY removal/prevention, but me - I'd call an exterminator. My favorite is is A-Eastern Pest Control (908) 464-5544. It's a small family run business with very friendly and knowledgeable people. I've used them for mice, carpenter bees, honey bees (huge population in my shingles!) & carpenter ants. Not sure if they do bats.
I'd also recommend you installing a few bat houses outside your home. Bats are excellent natural mosquito control.http://www.backyardbird.com/bathouses.html
Sort of like birds, we just love seeing bats - outside the home!!
Good luck! |
Ace789nj
Citizen
Username: Ace789nj
Post Number: 317
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 9:30 am: |
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Yeah but they've got to be cold, if not then some of the chocolate sticks to the wrapper or if it's really melted you wind up losing some PB to the wrapper and that's just wrong. keep 'em in the fridge |
\2{Monster}
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2485
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 9:41 am: |
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POMTROTFLMAO!!
THe pictures in my head of this had me kracking up, you've got bats in your belfry....
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SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 90
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 10:45 am: |
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JTA, I'm sure that having a bat in your house may have been frightening. But consider the following.
Bats are one of the most effective defenses against mosquitoes and things they carry like West Nile Virus. They eat tons of mosquitoes each hour and unless there is an epidemic of rabies, are harmless, gentle creatures that have been greatly mistreated.
Because nationally they have been the objects of great cruelty by many people, many species of bats are on the verge of extinction. The mosquito population will increase if this continues.
Their radar is superb. For this reason, they can fly close to you but will never collide with you as many fear. Bats that find their way into a house are often scared, disoriented juveniles learning to fly. They don't know their way around yet. They don't like being in your house in the manner you described any more than you like having them there. But how would you react to a baby bird in your house? Baby bats aren't that different.
Please do consider that bats can protect you and those you love enormously from mosquitoes and many diseases they transmit to you and to pets, even more than purple martins and other birds can.
Bat Conservation International has a website that could tell you more about these issues, including what to do if one gets in your house. If you can't find it from Google, let me know and I will post it here for you. I hope you take some time to learn more about the benefits they provide. Many species also pollinate and help propogate plants.
While they don't belong in your house, because of their benefits and their threat of extinction, BCI recommends mounting houses for them as you might a bird house. State and local governments throughout the country are doing so. I imagine that NJ wildlife officials may as well.
I envy you. I would be happy to have bats near (though not in) my house and consider myself lucky that they are there eating mosquitoes and pollinating flowers in my garden.
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12914
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 11:29 am: |
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Yeah, they're creepy, but they're not dangerous.
We had one in our house. He flew above my daughter's face and then into the bathroom while my wife was in there, and then it flew back out the window.
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AntoninaKC
Citizen
Username: Antoninakc
Post Number: 200
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 12:30 pm: |
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monster- what do the first 4 letters of this mean? " POMTROTFLMAO!! " I know the rest..
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WendyP
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3241
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 12:53 pm: |
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Wow, such hubub over a poor little bat.
JTA, next time call me (well, maybe not in the middle of the night) and I'll be happy to come remove him! He was probably just as freaked out as all the rest of you. |
\2{Monster}
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2488
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 2:00 pm: |
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Pissing
On
My
Toes |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4319
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 2:30 pm: |
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seb-
Ooops! You're right! Not sure if it was a typo on my part or not. The 'i' and 'u' are right next to each other. lol
jayjay- I think that's why they took it with them -to have it tested. We were just glad it wouldn't be around here anymore. We carefully checked the cat and even called the vet because she my sister was pretty sure the cat did get a hold of the bat at some point. we're bringing her in tomorrow as a precaution, for a booster. She seems fine, but it's better to be safe then sorry, especailly since we can't say for sure she didn't have contact with it.
The bat was trying to attacj my sister while she was sleeping. My sister, who's recovering from surgery, pulled her blankets over hear head and started screaming for someone to help her. It wasn't funny while is was happening, but now we're finding a little humor in the whole thing.
Wondering if mem is going to post a recipe for bat soup. |
LW
Citizen
Username: Lrw
Post Number: 66
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 4:30 pm: |
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The SOPD had to do the same exact thing at my house about 17 or 18 years ago. It can be frightening, especially for any children in the house. It's pretty funny to hear that this happened elsewhere, and our experience was also during the end of the winter. Glad to see that the SOPD are still able to handle these situations. |
J. Crohn
Supporter
Username: Jcrohn
Post Number: 2411
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 4:59 pm: |
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"I get back in my room and slam the door shut, as the bat flies out of my sister's room yelling for my mom or brother in law..."
Most bats cannot yell, at least not in English. Are you sure it wasn't Batman? I mean, a very small clone of him? |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 8878
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 5:05 pm: |
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The bigger question is: how did it know their names? |
AntoninaKC
Citizen
Username: Antoninakc
Post Number: 202
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 6:28 pm: |
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Dave: The ghost of Tony Smith told it |
sbenois
Supporter
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 14706
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 8:33 pm: |
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JTA,
Not sure if it's a typo on your part?
Listen sister, when you start a thread on MOL that doesn't have a typo in the subject line, please let Dave or Jamie know so they can send out a broadcast message.
You make Bobk look like a spelling bee champ.
Well, not really |
bill671
Citizen
Username: Bill671
Post Number: 358
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 9:37 pm: |
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Few years ago, I had occasion to work with a couple of compatriots at removing a bat from a home.............
The bat was busy flying circles around the bedroom....................
While I had removed bats before, one of the guys had never done this before, so he was a little reluctant to dive right in..........
He's definitely a manly man, the "you wouldn't want to meet in a bar fight" kind a guy, so we're not talking timid in the least...........
He's got his hat on backwards, a club in one hand, a tennis racket in the other............
He's got the bedroom door propped slightly open, carefully gauging the speed of the bat's circuits around the room............
He's almost ready to leap into action, but not quite..........
I grabbed him by the belt and the collar and propelled him into the room, slamming the door shut behind him, with me safely in the hallway, giving him the privacy he needed to confront his fear and deal with the winged intruder.
I wouldn't let him out of the room until the issue was resolved, and he had sufficient time too cool off, relish his victory and forget about kicking my butt!!! |
Josh Holtz
Citizen
Username: Jholtz
Post Number: 335
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 7:31 am: |
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Two vampire bats wake up in the middle of the night in South Orange, thirsty for blood. One says, "Let's fly out of the cave and get some blood."
"We're new here in the Village," says the second one. "It's dark out, and we don't know where to look. We'd better wait until the other bats go with us."
The first bat replies, "Who needs them? I can find some blood somewhere." He flies out of the cave.
When he returns, he is covered with blood.
The second bat says excitedly, "Where did you get the blood?"
The first bat takes his buddy to the mouth of the cave. Pointing into the night, he asks, "See JTA's house over there?"
"Yes," the other bat answers.
"Well," says the first bat, "I didn't." |
Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 1469
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 8:16 am: |
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"I get back in my room and slam the door shut, as the bat flies out of my sister's room yelling for my mom or brother in law..."
the "yelling for my mom or brother in law..." priceless!
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2596
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 9:35 am: |
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I still don't get the part about the bat trying to attack your sleeping sister. We don't have vampire bats around here, so there is nothing appealing (to a bat) about your sister. If she was sleeping, and not attacking the bat, I can't imagine the bat really "attacking" her. |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 334
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 11:18 am: |
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All of those involved should probably get rabies shots. Sorry,
J.B. |
WendyP
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3256
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 4:33 pm: |
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Rastro, perhaps it just landed on her, not realizing what it was landing on, and it was interpreted as "attacking." That's the only explaination I can figure. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 641
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 4:37 pm: |
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If a bat "lands" on me, it is "attacking" and must die, plain and simple. Same goes for spiders, mosquitoes and anything else that wants to snack on me!
(Normal bats do avoid people, JTA - have you been advised whether the bat was rabid or not? Was your sister scratched at all? I hope not!) |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 338
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 6:54 pm: |
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I repeat, probably everyone involved should get rabies shots. Bats are one of a few species that carry rabies without developing the fatal disease. It is excreted in their saliva and urine. In humans, it is 100% fatal.
Many people who are in a room with a bat can be bitten without any observable wound. Call any local E.R., animal control, or Dept. Of Public Health to confirm this.
Then go to the E.R.
Again, sorry. |
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