Bats doing the tourist thing

[Wayne Harrison]

by Scott Huddleston
San Antonio Express-News

Holy bat guano!
A mild winter and seasonal migration of Mexican free-tailed bats has led to more sightings of the winged mammals in San Antonio. Several thousand have roosted at one high-rise hotel with a spectacular downtown view — one they probably can't truly appreciate with their light-sensitive eyes.

Tim Hanks, owner of Commercial Bat Control, said he's had numerous calls from local stores, schools and hotels.

"About 100 of them flew in the lobby" of a downtown hotel last week, said Hanks, who's worked with bats for about 20 years.

What are pest control experts doing about these critters often associated with vampires and the macabre? They're caulking cracks and sealing openings where bats can enter but generally leaving the bats alone.

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