[dropcap]H[/dropcap]urray! We can look forward to Loving Mountain City’s 4th of July Parade and Lawnmower Races. Patricia Porterfield stepped forward to fill the vacant spot as lead. (Thanks, Patricia!)
Streets will be closed from 10-11 a.m. Festivities will start with the lawnmower races, followed by a parade around the block, starting on Pecan near the City Hall. Patricia is looking for band members to lead the parade. And, Loving Mountain City reminds participants to decorate their wheels and wear RED, WHITE and BLUE.
•••
Up there at city hall, in the June council meeting our aldermen appointed former mayor and longtime resident Rick Tarr as city administrator.
Recently on NextDoor.com someone (Kyle address) asked what do to with a bat on the ground in a backyard where dogs and children play. This comes when a rabid bat was recently found in Buda and also in Kyle.
Anytime a bat is “turned in” to a government entity, it will be killed and tested for rabies. I wondered, “Is it true that any bat on the ground probably has rabies?”
I sought facts from Dr. Merlin Tuttle, who has been involved in bat conservation for over 55 years. Anyone can contact him through http://merlintuttle.org.
Tuttle concludes it’s only in the extremely unlikely situation that the bat has bitten a person or a pet that has not been vaccinated against rabies, that we would call Animal Control (512-393-7896). “Otherwise, it’s just a waste of taxpayer dollars to have it tested. Finding a sick bat is not indicative of a rabies outbreak, or cause otherwise for concern. Even a sick bat is extremely unlikely to attack anyone.”
Tuttle’s short answer on conserving a grounded bat: CAREFULLY scoop bat onto a shovel and move it to a tree trunk.
“It is common at this time of year to find grounded bats. Here in Austin, these are often healthy mother red bats who are blown loose from their roosts in tree foliage, weighted down by two to four pups. They can’t take off from the ground carrying so much weight. Also, young free-tailed bats are learning to fly and may end up grounded.”
Regardless of what kind of bat it is, it poses no risk if no one attempts to handle it. However, if handled, it might bite in self-defense like other animals. Even among downed bats most are not rabid, but don’t take a chance by touching it!”
“Try carefully scooping it onto a shovel and moving it to a safe location away from people or pets. If possible, allow it to climb onto a tree trunk. It is a healthy mother just needing help getting airborne, it will climb up a bit and eventually fly away.”
If late at night the bat has not flown away, visit https://austinbatrefuge.org if you are willing to take the bat into Austin. It’s a nonprofit organization that exists entirely on donations.
If late at night you have a tidbit for Montage, just email [email protected] (subject: tidbit).
Thanks! Love, Pauline
