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GreatGazoo

(4,773 posts)
Wed May 20, 2026, 02:01 PM May 20

Slept with a window open. Woke up with a bat in my kitchen [View all]

First real week of summer heat here so I try to cool the house off at night. Have screens in all the windows except one in the LR. Had that one up about 5-inches all night. Went in the kitchen this morning and there was a bat sleeping quite comfortably right above the door to the pantry (it's a 1920s house). Not sure if she is awake or asleep but she seemed quite comfortable there while I made breakfast and lunch. Fearless and docile so far.

I live on the edge of a 700,000-acre park so I get all kinds of visitors and residents. Got a family of birds under the eaves but all the other animals are unmarried. My house is like Noah's ark for the celibate. One groundhog, one rabbit, one chipmunk (adorable), the neighbor's cat. Around sunset it's like a Disney movie as they all forage in different sections of the yard. Two years ago, I put out some seed for the pair of birds which were feeding hatchlings and looked exhausted. They wouldn't touch it but an adolescent black bear promptly crushed my fence and scooped it up. Lesson learned.

Have a pair of grey catbirds that show up around sunset and sing their little hearts out. They are like Jazz musicians with ADHD.

Hoping the bat leaves tonight. I might make a bat house for her on one of my trees but I don't want her to get used to my kitchen.

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Please don't do this. Bats remain the most common source for human rabies transmission hlthe2b May 20 #1
Excellent advice! LuckyCharms May 20 #4
Well my options right now are to remove it or let it leave on it's own GreatGazoo May 20 #6
Given there have been reports documented of exposure where the individual (and not just hlthe2b May 20 #8
If that happened in my house EYESORE 9001 May 20 #2
Hardwood or aluminum? LastDemocratInSC May 20 #3
hard wood GreatGazoo May 20 #5
Love this story! MoonlightHillFarm May 20 #7
I love bats too but rabies Laurelin May 20 #9
Forgot to add Laurelin May 20 #10
Bats are quite non-responsive in the daytime. Talitha May 20 #11
Thanks - Just after sunset here GreatGazoo May 20 #12
If you want, keep an eye on it till it wakes up and flies out, then close the door. Talitha May 20 #14
It is recommended by the experts that someone who wakes up Alpeduez21 May 20 #13
As I understand it if you suspect any contact and the bat is still present GreatGazoo May 20 #15
Pretty sure they could treat you for rabies without testing the bat Alpeduez21 May 21 #18
Yes - You would start empirical treatment immediately but if the bat test comes back negative GreatGazoo May 21 #19
10:15 PM update -- She left GreatGazoo May 20 #16
Was the door to your bedroom closed mnhtnbb May 21 #17
One case of rabies incubation was documented proable in India at 25 years ! GreatGazoo May 21 #20
!!! Mad_Dem_X May 21 #21
Triggered my instinctual fear for sure GreatGazoo May 21 #22
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