The room in which I live is about 30" by 30" with 5 men currently living in it. We work a mix of day and night shifts and since at any given time someone is always sleeping and it's pretty much pitch black when the lights are off, our room is sometimes called the Bat Cave.
Well, tonight that term took on another meaning. Right outside the door to our room, but still inside the main building, I found a small bat huddled against the wooden frame about knee-high off the ground. He was about 3" long and had a wingspan of maybe 8 inches when he started flapping. I guess he was sleeping, but it was the middle of the night. So I got a room-mate who was about to go to sleep, and I grabbed him, threw him in my laundry bag, and tried to dump him outside (the bat, not my room-mate). The little sonuvabitch clung to my laundry bag like it was his new home. I was getting close to just feeding him to the cats when I finally unpried his claws from the bag and stuck him in a little corner outside away from all the foot traffic.
I still can't figure out how or why he was inside. It's not like there's any food in there. The wood they used to build our rooms was treated by soaking it in formaldehyde. The fumes are so strong it makes everyone's eyes burn as soon as we go inside, and most days we wake up with sore throats. The benefit of it (normally, you probably wouldn't think of breathing formaldehyde all day as a benefit) is that there are no bugs. Go figure. My guess is that they put enough formaldehyde on the wood to repel all living things, and they almost succeeded.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
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8 comments:
Hi Josh! You lead an exciting life that's for sure! We are on our way out the door - after errands we will stop by the new house and see how we can help Steph. That little Zach is a pip!!! Love - mom
saving the cats now the bats whats up man your either trying out for the part of animial rights activist or a spot on wild wild world of Iraq anyway glad your well, got your email sounds like a plan, I have to run stay safe bro
Kris
isn't formaldahyde the stuff found in the FEMA trailers that were supplied after hurricane katrina?
anyway, a long time bat lover appreciates your rescue effort but hopes you'll be careful. it may have gotten in while chasing an insect then got overwhelmed by the f. as you say....
take care!
Formaldahyde was in fact in the FEMA trailers. I don't know what they're complaining about. It's not so bad once you get used to it. I guess the bat just didn't have enough time to get used to it.
so. you're not thinking the bat is sort of like a canary in a coal mine....... hope you're right. :)
have you been able to get out of the area at all since being there? or won't your work ever call for that?
Apparently, the formaldehyde isn't too strong. Besides the bat, we've had sightings of a mouse, a camel spider, some sort of asp, and numerous tiny lizards in and around the barracks. The kittens haven't been around for while. A camel spider may have eaten them.
I can't say when exactly when I'll be home. At some point, I am going home for a while to look for a job, help Steph with the B&B, hang out with Zack, and take care of several other things. If I don't find a job back home, then I will likely come back again for a while. I'm going to have to play a lot of this by ear.
Hello Josh
Myself and Aunt Sissy had a long talk with Stephanie after Chrissys' wedding. We are going to try and get down to visit her. It will be much easier since she is only 2 1/2 hours away. Ypur well being and safty will be in my prayers.
Uncle Allyn
Hi Josh, How is it going out there? I ran cross a useful website for your family http://www.nsopr.gov/. Very important considering there new location. Pass on to everyone.
I am still starting a business searching for Dead Beats and yes when I do get going if you would like to jump in the game that would be awesome. Kris out there yet? If so tell him I said Hey.. Aside from the hardship of being away from family I hope all is well with Steph and Zach. Let her know I said hello.
Later
Steve
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