Okay, that was just fucking COOL.

[apocalypsos]

So I'm coming back to the apartment, and I got off the bus across the highway to stop at CVS and pick up a couple of things. And I cross the street to go to the pedestrian walkway over the highway when I spot something lying on the sidewalk near the ramp.

Looked like a bird ... turned out to be a freakin' bat.

At first, I thought, "Aw, poor thing," because I was positive it was dead, lying on the hot sidewalk in the sun at four in the afternoon like it was.

Nope. The poor little thing (seriously, he was no bigger than a hamster) was just lying there panting, clutching the sidewalk with his little claws like he'd gone on a tiny nocturnal bender and woken up on a ground that just would not stop spinning.

So after an appropriate amount of worried cooing, I ripped the cover off my notebook so that I could, at the very least, pick him up and put him in the grass in the shade where he might hold out until nighttime. Luckily, though, a couple of little nudges with the cardboard and he hissed at me and took off.

Lucky little bastard. Anybody else probably would have screamed or squished him or something. :)

EDIT: Guys? There's a lot of you to go around, so ... well ... a little help? Please?

Comments

[samhain-punk.livejournal.com]

Aww! I love bats and I like you even more now that you've been kind to one.

[anxietygrrl.livejournal.com]

That is very awesome that you did that. Bats are so unappreciated.

[matildarose.livejournal.com]

I agree. Bats are fuzzy hamsters with wings. What's not to love?

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

I know! Up close he was so cute, with the soft fur and the pretty wings and the big perky ears, and if I hadn't gotten at least a smidge of my father's common sense to go with my mother's complete childish glee around adorable animals, I so would have brought him home and hugged him and loved him and named him George. *squeals*

Ahem. :)

Also, I did something that would have scared Christian Bale!Batman. Woohoo! Go, me! *giggles*

[anxietygrrl.livejournal.com]

And they eat mosquitos and reduce the spread of disease. Adorable and useful species.

[matildarose.livejournal.com]

Yes. *heart*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_tweeter_/]

I think they're cute too, but couldn't they possibly be infected with rabies?

[anxietygrrl.livejournal.com]

They are a rabies vector species, but it's rarer than you might think, especially in the most common brown bat. As long as you exercise the same care as you would with any other wild animal -- i.e., don't get bitten -- the risk isn't that dire, from what I understand. (Not an expert. Could be wrong.)

[akacat]

Bats are so cute!

But I don't think I could pick up a wild bat with my bare hands, for fear of the rabies thing. I hope if I ever encounter a bat in need I have a notebook handy.

[elessar.livejournal.com]

Bats are cool, I totally would have helped him. The only time I get freaked out by things are when they surprise me or they come in big numbers.

[elessar.livejournal.com]

Also, I did something that would have scared Christian Bale!Batman. Woohoo! Go, me! *giggles*

Maybe at the beginning of the movie, but towards the end, he's not so scared of them ;) Especially when he stands up in the swarm of them in that one scene. :P heheehhe

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Good point. But still, I'll take what I can get. ;)

[callmesyd.livejournal.com]

See, you're far braver than I am. I'd have been all "Aww, poor cute little batty.. here, boyfriend, YOU touch it while I cower over here like the big fat squeamish girly coward that I am!". We recently practiced this when a very cute little toad snuck into the kitchen and had to be escorted back outside.

Also, posted a link to the linked-to-in-the-edit entry in my journal. My friends list is tiny, but we don't overlap entirely, and I figured it would probably be okay. I'mma see if I can't find the email address(es) for people in my area now.

[hisenshi.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine referred me to your journal, and I think I have to agree with her. You seem like a really cool person. Would you mind if I watched/added you? ^_^

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the help. *hugs* :)

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Sure, go ahead. :)

[callmesyd.livejournal.com]

Ah, no worries. It's just an email, five minutes out of my life, and if it can help, I'll send more than one. I wonder if Arizona's people would still care even if I don't live there anymore. *hugs, ponders, twirls non-existant moustache*

THANKS FOR ADDING THE LINK...

[qnotku.livejournal.com]

...to the end of one of your messages. Hopefully, folks will chip in and help. It would mean a lot if they did - I know the power of internet communities and what they can accomplish. All SJ and I need is a small miracle.

Teri

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

You're more than welcome, sweetie. I'm worried, too, and I figured nine hundred people could do some fairly decent damage. :) *hugs*

[callmesyd.livejournal.com]

Especially those of us who aren't reading about wizards and therefore have nobody to talk to and nothing else to do 'til people stop reading. XD

Seriously, though, e-mail's away. Good luck, you two.

[lots42.livejournal.com]

Every time I try and find my senator's email, it just ends in frustration.

I live in the land sanity forgot, AKA Florida.

[hundakleptisis.livejournal.com]

I know it might be a bit awkward but maybe you could throw the message and link up like once every day for a week or two and try to catch everyone. Specially since the lady we spoke to about it for some help, felt that this was the best chance we had if we could get congressmen and that involved.

Thanks for supporting us hon, Teri really needs my help her since her health has gone down so bad.


SJ

[lots42.livejournal.com]

People who try and help what seem to be in-distress animals get a one-way pass into heaven, no waiting.

[callmesyd.livejournal.com]

No thanks necessary. I hope it helps. :)

[hundakleptisis.livejournal.com]

It really is a great help, I love it over here, and with three adopted kids and ten grandkids who would miss me too. Your help is very much appreciated.

[divabat.livejournal.com]

Batty! aww...

[musyc]

I think bats are adorable in all situations when they are outside. When they are in my house, different story. But good on you for trying to save him, even if he just had a hangover. :)