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UER Forum > Archived UE Main > Bats in Drains (Viewed 606 times)
F A S T 


Location: Oakland, CA
Gender: Male


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Bats in Drains
< on 10/6/2003 2:11 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've seen one website (urbanadventure) that documents bats in a drain. Has anyone else encountered any bats in drains? I've heard if they bite you, often you cannot feel it. That bats also carry rabies! Have bats ever been an issue for anyone? Just thought I would ask.


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F A S T
SPEK Photo 


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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 1 on 10/6/2003 2:35 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Bats eats fly and insects. They won't bite you for fun, only if they feel trapped, like if you grab one or try tom touch it. Blood thursty bats feeds on animals in southern america...

Still, they can have rabies and their shit when in dust and breathed can give some deseases.

Pour fins d'archives.

WWW.EXPLORATIONURBAINE.CA
kowalski 






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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 2 on 10/6/2003 2:38 AM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
We've run into solitary bats a couple of times in the Tomb of Roses in Burlington. Especially when alone, they tend to be fairly afraid of you, and in a drain you end up chasing them in one direction for awhile. If you see one on the ceiling, you should approach slowly and carefully, hugging the wall furthest from the bat, so that when it spooks it has the best chance of turning past you and heading in the direction you just came out of.

Generally bats won't bite you unless you physically run into them. I don't know the truth to the claim that you can't feel a bite, but I think it's fairly likely that you'll feel (and see) the bat fly into you. Since rabies is an issue, your best bet is to see a doctor if you were in a situation where you came into physical contact with a bat.

But we've only ever run into single bats, and both times it was in one drain (out of the more than twenty that I've been in). Their habitat, behaviour, and numbers are of course going to vary with area - our experience in Southern Ontario may not apply to those in the Southwest.

I'd suggest you take a look at some caving sites to figure out how they deal with bats, and contact your local caving club for information about bats in the area. Pulling a little social engineering and contacting your local public works department wouldn't hurt either - you could tell them you're a student doing research on urban ecosystems, and inquire about whether bats are ever found in the local storm sewer system.
[last edit 10/6/2003 2:39 AM by kowalski - edited 1 times]

F A S T 


Location: Oakland, CA
Gender: Male


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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 3 on 10/6/2003 2:42 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Kowalski just covered everything I asked a couple of seconds after I posted. thanks for the information.
[last edit 10/6/2003 2:44 AM by F A S T - edited 1 times]

F A S T
Macsbug 

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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 4 on 10/6/2003 2:45 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Here is an article I found relating to bats, rabies, and caving.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/432550
You need to make an account, but it logs you on right away after making it, so you can use a b.s. e-mail address.

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F A S T 


Location: Oakland, CA
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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 5 on 10/6/2003 2:59 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Well I was under the impression that bats ( or any mammal ) with rabies would be insane. So a rabid bat might very well attack regardless of what they normally do. I will call public works and ask them about wildlife in the drains. But I guess unless I was asleep I would have nothing to risk from a bat. I should hear see or feel it brush against me in the least. Thanks for all your information.
[last edit 10/6/2003 3:07 AM by F A S T - edited 1 times]

F A S T
Noah Vale 


Location: Portland, Or


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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 6 on 10/6/2003 3:28 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've run into bats in an old missile silo. They were all clustered together in a little hole in the ceiling. They posed no threat, and I think most bats are quite harmless, as others mentioned. Also, they may be like racoons and other animals that can vector rabies virus...that is, they will not bite you unless they already have rabies, since rabies affecting the nervous system, their judgement and perceptions change making you a threat...its the viruses way of insuring its survival.

Edit: Thanks Caput (for the post below this one), for laying down some good info about bats and how to keep them alive and happy
[last edit 10/6/2003 3:37 AM by Noah Vale - edited 1 times]

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Caput_58 


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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 7 on 10/6/2003 3:31 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
While bats can carry rabies, the risk is typically overstated, due mostly to a single poorly designed survey of a bat population conducted decades ago. All bats in the united states are either bug eaters or fruit eaters. In central america, there are vampire bats, which do painlessly bite their victims before lapping up a small amount of blood. But in general, bats do an incredible job of controlling your local insect population, and want nothing more than to be allowed to sleep in peace.

A few extra notes. Bats explore by echolocation, but when they become accustomed to a route they general fly by memory, much like you walk through your darkened house at night. Stand in their way and they may hit you or brush by you. If you think this means the bat is attacking you, you're an idiot.

Also, many bats spend their winters hibernating. If you awake them, they burn up a large part of their fat reserves bringing their body temp back up to normal. A few such disturbances and they may not have the fat to make it through the winter. Therefore, if you ever find a large colony of bats, you should avoid the area until spring. And in general, try to avoid loud noises or shining bright lights at them, as its tends to disturb their sleep, especially the noises.

In 7 years of caving, I've seen thousands of bats, andnever been bitten or otherwise hurt. On the other hand, I've probably accidently hit 3 or so that i know about, and probably a few more that I never even realized I crushed. On the whole, that makes me a hell of alot more dangerous to them than they are to me.

One more note. A favorite abandonment populated with a rare species of bat may be worth of federal protection under the abandoned species act. Just another option to help keep the bulldozers at bay.

Caput_58

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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 8 on 10/6/2003 4:41 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've seen bats in drains here in Texas. Only in numbers of 1 or 2 in two seperate systems. This one was in one of those manhole cones that go up from a square tunnel, and I accidentally flashed Big Garrity upon him. I felt like such a jerk that I didn't even take a picture.

"It's funnier that way."
Mr. X 


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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 9 on 10/6/2003 5:21 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Damn Caput_58 well said. Are you fucking Steve Irwin or what?

I can't count how many times I've been around bats, and not even known it. I too have squished bats, pressed up on them while hibernating and even been stalked by shrieking pissed off sinister bats, but never harmed. In the end I think the death score's in my favor. Sorry bats.

Bats: generally harmless. Stay away, and be quiet around 'em.

Oh yah, stay on your feet: http://www.undergroundepiphany.com/untitled.avi


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F A S T 


Location: Oakland, CA
Gender: Male


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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 10 on 10/6/2003 5:35 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Well thanks guys. All of your input has definitly shoved bats out of my head. I naturally thought they would be aggressive, but I guess not. I suppose the only thing to worry about is cornering one up against a manhole. Just adds some more thrill to the drains.


-UEXplorer

F A S T
Mochi 


Location: West Jordan, Utah
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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 11 on 10/6/2003 2:40 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I couldn't help myself...

Look at him dance! Tee hee hee! Dance, Mojo! DANCE!

>_< Mochi, not a werebat.

JESUS SAVES!!!
(And then he redeems his tickets for free prizes!)
Ferret 


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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 12 on 10/6/2003 3:45 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
It's now October, and an important note about bats should be mentioned - disturbing resting bats from now until spring will be, in most cold places, a death sentence to the bat. Where it gets cold, bats hibernate, but being such small animals, they don't have alot of body resources for this, so if they get woken up enough to fly around, even for a few minutes, they have just wasted enough energy that they now might not survive the winter.
Simply put - Don't Disturb the Bats.

Split 


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Re: Bats in Drains
<Reply # 13 on 10/7/2003 1:33 AM >
Posted on Forum:
 
Like spec said bats eat fuits and bugs. The only reason they would bite would be if they felt threatened or they might bump into you by accident (which doesnt happen very often). Bats shouldnt be a problem, their looks and stories are misleading. This is what often gets people worried or scared.

http://ueq.minimanga.com exploration in the cold
UER Forum > Archived UE Main > Bats in Drains (Viewed 606 times)



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