Membership

Holy Bats, Man!

Submitted by Chris Denison, Assistant Director/ Informal Recreation and Aquatics Wellness and Recreation Services, University of Northern Iowa.

Thank you, Chris!

CEDAR FALLS, IA — At approximately 9:30 p.m. on April 28, a fruit bat appeared in the Leisure Pool at the University of Northern Iowa. Two patrons were using the spa at that time, one an international student from Russia who had never seen a bat before.

Spotting the intruder, lifeguards Lindsay and Mallory requested assistance from the student facility manager, Marcie, who responded, "You want me to do what."

UNI Police were called, and informed the staff that using a tennis racket to fix the problem would be a felony because bats are a protected species in Iowa.

Luckily, the bat decided to land on the pool's spine board and was promptly covered with a garbage can. Staff members quickly took the backboard off the wall and outside the building.

The quick thinking and skill of the staff members in back boarding a four ounce fruit bat was applauded by their supervisor as an act that saved the life of the flying mammal.