Bats In The Belfry

Tuesday night happened to be somewhat eventful. Around 10pm Steve went upstairs to check the boys. As he approached the top of the steps he thought he sensed something fly by his head. When he turned on the hall light, then the boys' light, he did indeed realize something zoomed by his head. There were TWO bats flying around in the boys' bedroom. I thought he was calling me to come see some cats (out a window I was guessing, but how did he see them outside in the dark? I didn't hear any cats howling, and the downstairs windows were opened..) not to save my children from potentially rabid BATS!!! Liam woke up easily and came downstairs, but Matthew & Owen were dead to the commotion going on. Steve and I were yelling, screaming, trying to scare them awake (from the proper, safe distance of the doorway...we didn't want no bats flying at us!) Eventually, Steve being braver than I, roused them awake and I ushered them downstairs to safety. Trying to find a fishing net and work gloves in the garage with all that adrenaline pumping through me...I couldn't remember where they were (net on top shelf, gloves on the top of the "beer" fridge). Steve bravely captured them. Well, he had no choice, I pushed him in and closed the door behind him so he either had to catch them or be attacked by them.

Because this is the 3rd time we've had a bat(s) in our house, and there were 2 of them this time, it has become harder to believe it is from kids leaving doors opened. The first time we released it but last year we took a bat into animal control last year for a rabies test, so we knew the drill. I rearranged my schedule Wednesday morning to bring them in to animal control, but about 15 minutes before I was going to start corralling the kids, Matthew, scrambling off my bed and Liam, trying to climb up onto my bed, gently collided, breaking Liam's head wound back opened. So in the course of a week Liam has been to the ER 3 times. Stitches last Thursday, removing stitches Monday, and again on Wednesday. It's pretty bad when the triage nurse recognized you and can remember your son's name. After aggressive cleaning of the wound it was decided Steri-strips would be fine. The other option would have been slicing off the edges of the cut so there is a fresh wound to heal. Anyway, not knowing how long ER would take, my mom and sister took the bats in to have their little fangy heads chopped off and analyzed. I'm sure there will not be any rabies, but always good to know for sure. We should get a call in a week or so.

Batman, as we like to call him, will be here next week to install an escape hatch (no re-entry allowed) and seal up a few places around the roof critters can get in. FYI, if you hear scratching in your walls, you might want to get it checked out.