A bat in the basement tests Utah governor’s “fight or flight” reflex

SALT LAKE CITY — So what would you do if a bat flew into your family room during family time?

Here’s what Utah Governor Spencer Cox (and his family) did this weekend (careful, loud screaming happens about midway through):

You learn a lot about a person’s disaster personality when a bat enters the room…fight or flight? We have video evidence. 😂😂😂 https://t.co/18E7BSBuji pic.twitter.com/QhfNuucIUX

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) April 25, 2021

According to a post on Gov. Cox’s personal Twitter account, he and his family were visiting his parents in St. George. As seen on the tweet’s accompanying video, the governor was alerted that something was amiss when his mom, wife, and daughter started screaming.

“I assumed it was a mountain lion,” Gov. Cox tweeted.

It was a bat. Cox said that he and his father were able to get it out of the room thanks to a broom. 

“My apologies to the neighbors,” he said, “and the bat, who are likely traumatized by the chaos.”

Staying with my parents in St. George and a bat just flew into the house. By the reaction of my mom, wife and daughter, I assumed it was a mountain lion. Armed with brooms, dad and I got it out. My apologies to the neighbors and the bat who are likely traumatized by the chaos.😂 pic.twitter.com/YC6WpT2gs1

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) April 25, 2021

Here’s some advice from The Humane Society of the United States, in case you ever find yourself in such a predicament:

• Remain calm;
• Stay near a wall (bats tend to fly higher near walls and lower in the center of the room);
• Close interior doors, but give the bat a way to get outside;
• If it doesn’t exit on its own, wait until it lands to try and catch it;
• Find your thickest leather or work gloves. If not available grab a blanket (not a towel);
• The bat will eventually land someplace it can hang, like a curtain rod, clothes rack, or in your houseplants;
• Once the bat lands, try to place a plastic tub or similar container over the animal. Then slide a piece of cardboard under the container (like you do with a spider when trying to impress your vegetarian date);
• Take the bat outside;
• Allow the bat to climb a tree trunk or other verticle surface, it likely can’t take flight from the ground;
• Finally, contact your local animal control agency for help in getting the bat tested for rabies in case it bit anybody.

OTHER READING:

• One city in Australia has more BATS than people

• Utah authorities warn of rabid bats after an 8th tests positive

• Moroni man first Utah rabies-related death in nearly 75 years

 

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