Bats. I love all creatures, but I can't be near bats anymore. They got in our cabin in the night when I was 10. I woke up to a few of them not being able to find their way back out and being a critter lover and rescuer already I got up to help them. I got a broom since they seemed to be trying to find somehting to settle on and sure enough when I held it up near them 2 out of the 3 did go onto it. I started walking slowly to the window that was open, I assume they came in that way, and one flew out, but the one left behind was circling madly in the main room, and then the one still on the broom flew off right into my hair. Ya, got tangled in my long hair and I grabbed at it to try and pull it out, things got worse. I dropped the broom, it hit me in the face, I screamed, woke everyone up, parents running to see what was going on, by then me in nightgown trying to run away tripping over broom, sprawling on floor.
Ya, it all replays in my head at having to deal with bats. I have educated myself about the good they do, and attended lectures where biologists have them on display and I accept them, just don't make me deal directly with them. I ***loose it*** if they get too close. I'll never forget the rubber sticky texture and the flapping, tangling moves or the fear of them biting me. Even at that age I knew they were vectors for disease and infection.
