Batman

[mjs1973]

My wife and dog found this injured bat in the back yard yesterday. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a few photos.

[Singletracklovr]

Very neat shots, Mike.

[mjs1973]

Thanks Bob. It's not often that I have such a unique subject to play around with.

[OldClicker]

Nice captures. They are strange little creatures.

Careful, though. Here in northern IL, bats are generally the only creatures left that still carry rabies.

Terry

[scott-devon]

Very nice shots, they are fascinating.

[mjs1973]

Thanks everyone. No worries of rabies. I made use I stayed clear of it's mouth and used a stick to move it around. It was very difficult to get it in a position where I could see it's tiny eyes.

[paulnj]

I find bats in trees a few times a year, but you are hard pressed to see one up close otherwise. They do indeed have a nasty bite, but I wouldn't be scared of them.

How was in injured and did you call animal rescue?

[mjs1973]

It looked like it had a wing injury. When it spread it's wings you could see some small tears in the membrane of the wings, I didn't think to call animal rescue until after I had let it go in the bushes. Last time we tried to call an animal rescue person they never called us back...

[paulnj]

http://www.batcow.org/

It's a big brown bat BTW.

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the link and the ID. Lots of great info on that site. I would love to put up a bat house, but I know the wife would not go for that.

[paulnj]

Thanks for the link and the ID. Lots of great info on that site. I would love to put up a bat house, but I know the wife would not go for that.

Bat houses are awesome. I have put up plenty in yards where I find bats living in hollows or under vine engulfed trees. Bats eat insects by the thousands !!

[mjs1973]

Bats eat insects by the thousands !!

One of our local state parks had a huge problem with mosquito's. They but up several bat houses and pretty much eliminated the problem. Sitting in my back yard I can almost set my watch by the bats. They usually start flying around by 8:30-9:00. That's when my wife goes back in the house.

[Loupey]

Cool shots!

We love watching them fly around and hunt at dusk. My daughter and I often stand in the middle of our cul-de-sac and throw a tennis ball straight up. The bats will almost always chase the ball back down to just a few feet above our heads.

[shootme]

So ugly, great shots, congrats on feature.

[mjs1973]

So ugly, great shots, congrats on feature.

Ugly? I think he's kinda cute.

Thanks for the feature!!!!

[Eric D]

Nice captures and well deserved Feature Photo!