Are you scared of bats?

I love bats. I used to live in a mobile home and one got indoors. I made the mistake of picking it up to put it outside. It bit me and I had to go and have rabies jabs.

I have a bat detector and enjoy trying to dial in to see if there are many flying around.

I was fast asleep one summer night years ago when I was woken by my blind rattling. I had left the bedroom window ajar so I thought the breeze was rattling the blind and groggily got up and closed the window, and got back into bed.

The blind continued to rattle.

I put on the light and suddenly a large bat, which I thought was a blackbird at first (similar size) began swooping down around the bed. The shock was enormous ! I ran out of the bedroom, closed the door and stood shaking on the landing.

Then I realised I'd have to force myself to go back into the room and open the window for it to escape. I opened the door and it was swooping round and round. Eeek! I ran into the room, let up the blind, opened the window, turned off the light and ran out again.

After about 10 minutes on the landing, I cautiously opened the door and all was quiet. I went back in to close the window so that it couldn't come in again, and suddenly it swooped on me from behind. It must have been perched on the back of my bedroom door. Eeek! I opened the window again and ran out.

I had never given a moment's thought to bats before this, but I wouldn't want to go through all of that again. My heart was racing so much that I genuinely thought I might have a heart attack.

I have since had some insect screens made so that I can leave the windows open and nothing can come in.

I love them and we used to get some tiny little ones in the evening but they have disappeared over the last couple of years. They get the big fruit bats in some areas of Melbourne but apparently they make a lot of mess. They carry diseases apparently but I would be very doubtful if Covid originated from them. That's just bat-slander.

Can't bear them. We were besieged by large fruit bats once on holiday in Gambia...horrible.

Dear God no! Not keen on anything small, furry and fast moving.

We often go outside into the garden late in the evening or to our local churchyard to watch the bats and are amused when they "buzz" us. I love to see them.

Occasionally seen them swooping around the garden when I went out late at night. I am not afraid of them and have no strong feelings. They are just another wild creature.

Not scared, I am terrified! Was persuaded by our grandson, then aged about 7, to go with him into the bat house at the. zoo. Obviously it is dark in there and the bats fly around you. I was wearing a hat as I was sure one would land in my hair and doing quite well. Suddenly our grandson said “Nanny I think there’s a bat in my hood”. I don’t think I’ve ever moved so fast. Needless to say I have not been back in there. When Covid first appeared pictures of bats seemed to be everywhere in newspapers, online and on TV and I’ve had to look away. I really can’t understand how anyone can like them as their faces give me the creeps! I shall probably have nightmares about them now!

I have a maternity colony of pipistrelle bats in my roof every summer.
They are delightful little creatures. Occasionally the youngsters take a wrong turn and find their way into the house through open windows.
I've had one in my shower, one hanging on the hall curtains and one flying around in my son's bedroom.

We have them in the attic of the care home I work in. I was totally unaware of this fact until about 18 months ago when one was flying down the corridor, I managed to get it in a room and let it out the window but this was daylight and I’m not sure whether they should be out in daylight? hopefully he found his way back,…????? I was fine but the other carer with me was absolutely terrified (very small,about 3” long….. the bat not the carer! ?)

Not seen any live but local primary new build was delayed as bats were nesting in the old school roof and were protected species so builders had to wait till. they moved on.

Nell8

I had a friend who lived in the Seychelles for a while. She described watching a fruit bat clamber out of her swimming pool. The first thing to appear over the edge was a long hooked claw attached to a black leathery wing. Eeeek. Run for it
I've just read about them online. Apparently they're megabats - the size of cats. I'm sure their mummies love them ... Shudder

I've sat on a balcony and watched swarms coming in to roost.
If you leave a car under a tree their poo will strip the paintwork!

In the UK, fruit bats in great swarms would be a novelty

One we don't want!

Another bat lover here - I call them all Nora (Batty) and watch them swooping around the house at dusk. Once had to leave the garage door up all night, when one decided to roost there. It had gone by the next morning.

Midgey that's such a funny story.

My brother and I were sitting in the car and a bat landed on the windscreen. My brother got out and gently using cap (he didn't want to touch the bat with his hand) picked it up and took it to the hedgerow and turned his hat upside down. Not checking it had gone he put his hat back and it was still clinging on in his hat!! You've never seen a flat cap come off so quickly.

I love the bats who visit my garden every evening.

We have them roost at the side of our house every summer. They stay for a few weeks and then they're gone. Last year there was one on our bedroom wall so we put it outside.

I had a friend who lived in the Seychelles for a while. She described watching a fruit bat clamber out of her swimming pool. The first thing to appear over the edge was a long hooked claw attached to a black leathery wing. Eeeek. Run for it
I've just read about them online. Apparently they're megabats - the size of cats. I'm sure their mummies love them ... Shudder

We’ve had them in the house a couple of times. One was injured so took it to the vet and the other one flew out the window. They were tiny. I love to watch them flying around outside the window at sunset. Much prefer them outside than inside.

Athrawes

Love them! They are so cute - well the ones we have around in the evening. Mind you I wouldn't fancy one flitting inside the house; I'm not sure how easy they would be to catch in those circumstances

You don't try to catch them. You open the window, close the door from outside the room and let them leave in their own time. They have probably young ones that have taken the wrong turning for their roost, and want to get home. Once they get outside they will pick up the landmarks that tell them where they are and which way to go, and they'll be OK.

When I lived in Malaysia I went in the bat cave where there are thousands just flying around you as you walk over the hardened guava
Yes I like them

We had bats when we moved here, they have left us now.

Loved watching them come and go.

I like watching them in the evening outside, but don't want them in the house. We had them inside a couple of times where we lived before and that's enough! I know all about "They're more scared of you than you are of them" (cf spiders) and "They're little warm furry creatures" but when they are in the house, I don't believe a word of it.

I do enjoy watching bats , they are fascinating creatures. However many years ago when my first child was a toddler I discovered a bat in my sitting room . I was too scared to catch it. I rang a bat protection society for advise! They said " pity you haven't any builders on your property they are often familiar with bats" My reply was " I do have builders here" I asked the builder and he picked the bat up and released it.

the thought of rabies is enough to keep me at a distance. would not take a chance with rabies.

Yes, really, really scared of bats. I think it's the swoop..