I stalk.
I can’t help myself.
When I see a groundhog or a bunny or a deer named Wilma, I can’t resist grabbing a camera, crouching down and invading their privacy.
I feel a similar urge when I come across beautiful foliage.
But I don’t feel as guilty.
I’m a foliage peeper.
I don’t care who knows it.
So there.
Yet a gal can only stalk woodland creatures for so long until her conscience starts to nag her.
Or until the coppers catch wise.
(When that day does come, I’ll switch from “coppers” to “fuzz” – so prepare yourself.)
Then this little guy entered my life.
His name is Barnabas the Bat.
He was living in the lobby of my work.
It now seems clear.
The woodland creatures have started stalking me.
I’ve always been a hit among flying mammals
Except the squirrels
They hold a grudge,
Megan
Who’s Stalking Whom?
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Dude, that bat is crazy looking. Bat shit nuts, if I do say so myself. And kinda cute in a creepy way. What did you do with it?!
Barnabus is adorable.
It’s one of the many things we have in common.
That and lack of rabies.
He’s adorable! Have you heard from him lately? Was he released back into the wild? If so, did you get a restraining order yet?
He’s still at the rescue place – he won’t be released until spring! Though they’re actually having issues getting him to eat.
It’s quite sad.
Judging by the absence of the white-tail-flag-of-alarm, I’d say the deer have grown accustomed to your face.
And even more concerning, they’re grown accustomed to my large, black, clicking camera.
I fear I’m not doing them a service.
Bats freak me out. I’m glad it’s stalking you and not me.
Hope you’re feeling better.
Well, normal bats, sure – but this is Barnabus.
He’s a sweetheart.
Gorgeous pics. I recently came around to bats, because my kids are in love with them…but the big ones still need to keep their distance. Barnabas is precious.
Isn’t he?
He’s definitely my favorite bat.
you need to come and stay with me for a few days…we have deer come right up to the house…even check the mail for me! i am sure they would strike a pose for you.
have you used po-po yet?
your bat looks like a lion that has been partially shaved. i know a cat named barnabas! he was a saint you know…barnabas, not the cat!
I. HATE. SQUIRRELS! (you know it’s bad if i turn on my cap’s lock key!)
Deer are adorable, close AND useful where you live? Count me in!
And po-po – of course, now that’s what my vocabulary has been missing!
I have an automatic affection for anyone who thinks squirrels are evil. I became a squirrel warrior the day I came home from work one fall evening to find the Halloween pumpkin I’d carved and set on the steps of my front porch looking like it had been hit with a baseball bat. As I bent down to look at the damage I thought had been done by pumpkin-hating hooligans, a squirrel leapt out at me from where he’d been lurking INSIDE the pumpkin. He was covered in stringy pumpkin guts and he made this horrible chittering noise that still haunts me. I swear to god he went straight for my jugular, and the only thing that saved me was the fact that as came flying out of the pumpkin I fell backwards down the steps, otherwise I would have become another squirrel-related fatality statistic.
Is Barnabas’ namesake the star of Dark Shadows?
He IS named after the star of Dark Shadows – for both recognizing that and your hilarious story you win comment of the day!
There’s no prize, but you do get my everlasting love.
I hope that makes up for it.
Bats are cute! Who knew?
So jealous you have a cute bat stalker.
But be careful.
Oh, all bat stalkers start off cute.
But that’s the phase I’m at, so I’m okay with it for now.
wow those are some amazing photos of that deer! I saw 4 yesterday when I was skiing but I didn’t get photos nearly as nice!
That’s acceptable – I bet I wouldn’t do a great job as photographer while skiing!
I love your photos! You always have great shots with awesome stories.
Hope all is well
All was not well, as I was dying from the flu.
But I somehow survived, so now all is well again!
We used to have bats on the top floor of my junior high school. About once a month, the teachers wold be told over the intercom to keep us inside the class rooms because “the bats were loose”.
Makes ya wonder, huh?
Does it make me wonder that you went to a freaking awesome school/possibly one haunted by the ghost of batman?
Yes, yes it does.
Oh…I remember him, Barnabas, was it? I still get chills down my spine in knowing he was behind me the whole time…watching…
What? No chills are warranted – Barnabas is a sweetheart! He only wanted to be your friend!
Jaysus…poke a hole in that container! You’re gonna kill it…or was that the plan?
Hmm… looking back on it, I’m not sure how Barnabas was breathing. But he survived, so I guess someone smarter than me figured it out!
Bats rock
Yes, yes they do.
You must tell why squirrels hold a grudge. There is a story there.
Why?
I don’t know really – I can only assume it’s the way they’re made.
Like how elephants never forget.
The comments are almost as good as the post! I too am interested to learn why the squirrels hold a grudge. I love squirrels. Honestly the nest of them that lived behind my house in South Carolina were probably my favorite thing about those seven months of my life. Yes, South Carolina, I’m sure you have some redeeming qualities (baby squirrels!!) but I still shudder when I think about you.
I’ve never lived in South Carolina, nor have I ever really visited, so now my entire conception of that state is baby squirrels.
I have to say, it sounds like an adorable place.
I love the deer that wander through my neighborhood.
Until they eat my budding roses.
Then I am…irked.
However, since I am also unarmed, they do not take me very seriously.
And bat under cd-lid.
I’m sure it’s a delicacy somewhere.
I will never go there.
NOOO – Barnabas is our friend, not food!
Is Barnabas the red-headed step child of bats? That fur doesn’t do much for camouflage.
Even bats have redheads.
Who knew?
Batty! Adorablez!
You’re like Evan-Almighty! Watch your back for random 2 by 2′s and start looking for wiskers. Also, if you start wearing robes everywhere, tell me what that’s like. I would love to be a part of that fashion trend.
I am like Evan Almighty! Only with less awesome story telling and more forgetting to shave my legs. Though that is some sort of whiskers, so maybe that counts.
And I am all about a robe fashion trend.
It sounds comfy. And I’m on the side of comfy.
I read your batty tweets…hee hee…and loved them. Howver, now I’m not sure I like looking actually *at* the bat; it kinda gives me the hernia-jeebies! Your tweets made him so much cuter
Batty is adorable!
…though I actually fell in love with him mostly while tweeting, I admit, in person I was a little hesitant!