Sunday, February 21, 2016

FLY AWAY...PLEASE!

Well, I had a bit of unexpected excitement a little while ago.  I decided to bring in the wooden screen I had bought a few months ago and start preparing to paint it.  I had it in my carport leaning on the wall. At first I was going to just drag it into the house and vacuum it off., but then decided to first use a hand broom to clean off the cobwebs.  I dusted off the first panel on the exposed side (there are 3 panels), then slowly started to open it to do the same on the other panels, front and back.  As I work along, I spotted something fuzzy about midway down one of the panels.  When I bent to get a better look, at first I thought it was a caterpillar, but then realized it was a bat!! Freaked me out! I grabbed a plastic bag and carefully removed it from the screen as it was alive.  I then sat it on top of the trashcan lid and covered with a rag to keep it warm. I called my friend, Jackie, who co-runs a wildlife refuge center nearby and asked her what to do. She had her twin sister call me as she is a vet and could advise better.  She called and told me it is not a baby and probably a juvenile. She said it would fly away at dusk and told me to place it where it could be able to crawl and take off. As she spoke, I heard a rustling and then saw the little bat (about 2 inches long and furry) crawl up out of the rag I had placed on it and suddenly fly up! It swooped around me a few times and I screamed. Then it flew into the backyard.  I had taken a couple photos of it while waiting for the call, and here it is.
The end to the right is his/her rear. On the left is the head hidden under arms. It was only about 2-2.5 inches long curled up like this, but when it took off, the wingspan was about 4 inches.
Here is the wood 3-panel screen it was hiding in.
The tiny bat was near bottom of the second circular design between 2 panels.  
I am so glad I decided to clean it outside!
I am planing to paint the screen.  You will see that after I am done.
I love the carved design but do not like it in black.
So that is my story!
Bye bye bat!

24 comments:

  1. Yikes! That critter may be somewhat cute,but I really don't care to be near one of them.

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  2. I can hear that scream now...with a little giggle in there. Mary

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  3. You find the prettiest things! And the screen is nice, too. ;-)

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  4. I love the bat and the screen!!!!
    -TRISTA

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  5. So glad you were able to keep your calm (after you screamed!) and do all the right things to rescue this furry little bat. Bats are such an important ecological link to controlling mosquito born diseases like the Zika virus. You may be saving more than one life. :-) Alice

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  6. That is BAT-citing!

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  7. You are lucky to have bats living around you. They are wonderful at killing mosquitos. We have several resident bats and I love seeing them fly around at night catching flying insects. Sometimes they even skim the pool to get both water and bugs.

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  8. Oh my gosh! I am petrified of bats! Good thing you didn't take the screen inside right away!

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  9. You were so fortunate. In Central Oregon 20% of bats turned into Deschutes County are rabid. Glad you were able to help this one. They really are very cute if you can get past their derogatory legends. We have a lot where we live and Helen even found one in our Bath room once when she visited.
    Dana

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  10. Yep, I would have freaked too - but probably threw that thing as far as I could. Many years ago, I lived in a tiny cottage by a lake. During the heat of summer I left my door open at night to get the sound of the water and the fresh air. One night a bat came flying in, I hid under my covers all night, didn't sleep and didn't move! I don't know when it flew out but I tell you, I kept an eye out for that bat for days to come. And, I never slept with the door open again :) Many blessings, Cindy xo

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  11. I would have totally freaked out too! I never knew they could be so tiny. Now your screen has a story to tell : )
    Beautiful screen!

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  12. Oh gosh, finding a bat would drive me batty! lol! I would be screeching for sure when it swooped around me. Can't wait to see the screen painted!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  13. What a beautiful screen, Rose! So nice of you to be kind to the bat. They are so beneficial. We get them inside once in a while if we leave a sliding door open at dusk. We just duck and open all the doors and they always fly right out. It does jangle the nerves, though! xo Karen

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  14. What a great screen Rose! So glad your bat friend is happy and safe!

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  15. Rose, Wow! I am glad I didn't encounter the bat. You were so nice to keep it warm until it was ready to fly!

    xo Dianne

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  16. The screen is lovely. We will look forward to see it's rejuvenation. I would have screamed if I uncovered a bat!
    Have a great weekend ahead. and thanks for stopping over at my blog today.

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  17. Gorgeous screen! I hope the bat was okay.

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  18. Hi Rose, I have sure been enjoying catching up with you tonight and your wonderful posts. Your garden is beginning to bring in spring and I love seeing your kitties.

    Love this screen and it will be gorgeous painted. What color are you going to use. I would have been freaked out by the bat too. So good you cleaned it outside. Looking forward to seeing the finish.
    Have a nice weekend and blessings to you always. xo

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  19. Scary, glad you were bit, and happy it all turned out well for the bat.xoxo Su

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  20. I meant that I was glad that you were not bit, and that it turned out well for the bat.

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  21. Hi Rose,
    Wow that is quite a bat story! So scary. Your screen is so lovely what a surprise for you! I would have screamed! Take care! Karen

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  22. I enjoyed your adventure with the tiny bat. So glad you decided to save it. Love the screen. Donna

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  23. how lucky to see a little bat so close and even to hold it although I can understand you would be a bit jumpy - I am glad it flew away somewhere safe. I have only seen them close once above a tree I stood under while they flew inches above my head unexpectedly.

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