Bizarre Behavior By Bats in Great Smoky Mountains

  • 11 years ago
Bats residing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are diving towards visitors and flying during the day.

There aren’t too many people who would want to have a run in with a bat.

Well visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park were recently warned by officials that bats in the area have been acting strangely.

Usually bats hibernate during the winter, but evidently the creatures who frequent the park are taking a different approach. According to authorities, the bats have been flying erratically during the day and plunging downward towards visitors.

Although it remains unknown why the bats are acting so strangely, it’s a possibility that they are suffering from “white-nose syndrome”. Although, it is not a threat to people, the disease causes bats to use up their fat reserves, which means they can’t stay in hibernation as long as needed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that any bat which is flying around during the day or found in an unusual place could potentially have rabies. Last year, a 10-year-old Massachusetts girl was bitten by a bat while at a town beach.

The creature was discovered to have rabies. Fortunately the child was promptly treated.

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