"Have to Wait Until Flying Again"
"It was a little scary because it was the first time a bat flew into the house." This was the statement from a resident who found a bat at the apartment window in broad daylight with the sun high in the sky.
On the afternoon of the 11th, Yonhap News reported that two bats about the size of a human fist appeared at the living room window of Ms. Hong Hana (30), living on the 25th floor of an apartment in Sinheung-dong, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si.
The bats were blocked by the insect screen and could not enter the house. However, even after Ms. Hong discovered them, they crawled around various parts of the window for about two hours before flying away again.
Ms. Hong, the homeowner, told Yonhap News, "It was a little scary because it was the first time a bat flew into the house," adding, "Since the window was closed, there was no particular damage, so I did not report it to the authorities."
The bats are presumed to be Anju baby bats, which are widely distributed in Korea. About 23 species of bats live in Korea, including the Anju baby bat, house bat, and Gwan bat. Bats can be classified by their diet into carnivorous, insectivorous, frugivorous, and sanguivorous types, but only insectivorous bats are known to inhabit Korea.
According to the Gyeonggi-do Wildlife Rescue and Management Center, the number of bat rescue cases in the province was 30 in 2021, 14 in 2022, 14 last year, and 8 so far this year. Most of the bats reported for rescue at the center are also known to be Anju baby bats.
A representative from the Gyeonggi-do Wildlife Rescue and Management Center told Yonhap News, "Due to residential development, bats that have lost their habitats sometimes appear on apartment windows and other places in their original habitats," adding, "It is best to wait until the bat flies away again, as in this case, but if it is inconvenient, you can wear protective gloves and remove it from the window or elsewhere and relocate it."
Bats communicate and catch prey using ultrasonic sounds that humans cannot hear. The Anju baby bat is known to emit unique ultrasonic sounds among them. They are mainly found on insect screens and may be resting briefly during flight, so it is best to leave them alone.
Meanwhile, bats play an important role in regulating insect populations within the ecosystem. They help prevent damage to forests and crops caused by pests and assist in pollination, enabling plants to bear fruit.
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