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Bats invaded a La Porte school overnight. This is the most recent of several school bat infestations in the Houston area.
La Porte Elementary maintenance employees discovered about 100 Mexican free-tailed bats flying around the school gymnasium at about 8 p.m. Thursday. A spokesperson for the school district said Friday that they are working to seal the interior of the gym, install netting and inspect the exterior to determine the bats' point of entry.
No effort is being made to physically capture the bats. According to La Porte ISD, the bats are being allowed to leave on their own. All activities in the gym have been cancelled until the problem is resolved. A letter from the principal will be sent home with students today and classes will continue as normal.
The La Porte bat invasion comes on the heels of bat problems in Clear Lake and Houston Independent School Districts earlier this year. The Clear Lake Ninth Grade Center had the unwelcome guests in the gym and in classroom areas in January and February. Most recently, HISD's Bay Elementary was infested.
Tony Darrah with Masters Wildlife in Houston explained that this is the Mexican free-tailed bats' common migrating season as they travel from Mexico into Texas to mate.
So, why do bats flock to schools?
"They want to get smarter," Darrah joked. "But seriously, a large structure like a school or gym is susceptible to bats because it is hard to keep up with all the nooks and crannies and possible points of entry. A quarter-inch hole is big enough for them to get inside and take over."
La Porte Elementary maintenance employees discovered about 100 Mexican free-tailed bats flying around the school gymnasium at about 8 p.m. Thursday. A spokesperson for the school district said Friday that they are working to seal the interior of the gym, install netting and inspect the exterior to determine the bats' point of entry.
No effort is being made to physically capture the bats. According to La Porte ISD, the bats are being allowed to leave on their own. All activities in the gym have been cancelled until the problem is resolved. A letter from the principal will be sent home with students today and classes will continue as normal.
The La Porte bat invasion comes on the heels of bat problems in Clear Lake and Houston Independent School Districts earlier this year. The Clear Lake Ninth Grade Center had the unwelcome guests in the gym and in classroom areas in January and February. Most recently, HISD's Bay Elementary was infested.
Tony Darrah with Masters Wildlife in Houston explained that this is the Mexican free-tailed bats' common migrating season as they travel from Mexico into Texas to mate.
So, why do bats flock to schools?
"They want to get smarter," Darrah joked. "But seriously, a large structure like a school or gym is susceptible to bats because it is hard to keep up with all the nooks and crannies and possible points of entry. A quarter-inch hole is big enough for them to get inside and take over."
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