bats

Cape man has rabies; first human case in state in 75 years

adamg — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:45:53 +0000

Channel 4 reports he may have gotten it from one of the bats living in his house; he's in critical condition.

Rabid bat found on Back Bay sidewalk; somebody may have been bitten

adamg — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:16:22 +0000

The Boston Public Health Commission reports a bat found on the sidewalk in front of 244 Clarendon St. yesterday afternoon has tested positive for rabies. Anybody who might have had direct contact with the bat should contact both the commission - at 617-534-5611 - and a doctor.

The commission says Animal Control officers responded to multiple calls from the neighborhood - and that it has two possible reports of somebody being bitten by the bat.

"If anyone was in direct contact with this bat yesterday, they need preventive treatment against rabies, and they should contact us and their health care provider as soon as possible," Dr. Anita Barry, director of the commission's Infectious Disease Bureau said in a statement. "Persons who did not touch the bat are not at any risk."

Rabies, spread through an infected animal's saliva, is typically fatal unless treated.

The commission is planning to post fliers at churches and businesses along Clarendon between Comm. Ave. and Newbury Street today.

Going batty on Beacon Hill

adamg — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:14:19 +0000

Around 3:45 p.m. today, the Animal Rescue League of Boston tweeted:

A call for a bat swimming in a toliet in Beacon Hill came in...ARL en route.

Less than ten minutes later we learned the bat was successfully rescued.

Try this with a Swiffer

adamg — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:49:50 +0000

The Outraged Liberal takes swift action when a bat starts flapping around his house.

Did you know a rabid bat could bite you in your sleep and you'd never know until you start to die?

adamg — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:08:43 +0000

Karen Wise explains why her entire family is now getting rabies shots, not that she knows for a fact that the bat that was flying around in her house was rabid, since her husband let it fly out, when, as they now know, you're supposed to trap it somehow and let Animal Control test it for rabies.

Going batty

adamg — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:49:26 +0000

Brookline, Newton report lots of bats in people's belfries, attics, apartments.

Hmm, if you had to chose: Bats or killer turkeys? Or snapping turtles?

Good reason to bring your laundry to a laundromat

adamg — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:12:38 +0000

Or why you should leave all the basement lights on all the time:

I went down to the basement today to get the laundry and opened the door into the basement and there was a thing that looked kind of like a chunk of lint or a sock hanging on the edge of the door. I grabbed it and it was warm and furry and surprising. I dropped it and jumped back. It was a bat. ...

Bats! Squirrels!

adamg — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:34:51 +0000

It's the height of bat season in Roslindale and West Roxbury.

Meanwhile, Angela looks out her (non-Rozzie, non-Westie) window to see how baby squirrels are made (Caution: Not Safe for Oak Trees).

Batty

adamg — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 17:18:30 +0000

Jenny discovers it's true: If you have a sleeping bat in your pantry, you really can trap it with some Tupperware for release outside.