Bats in the Courthouse

Last night I posted an item about how the Carbon County Commissioners were working together to oppose the PennEast pipeline.

Another portion of the Commissioners’ meeting also gave me hope.  In the public comment period, Gene Nalesnik of Jim Thorpe brought up the issue of the bats that are living in the Courthouse.  A program is underway to shut the bats out.  As someone who once had bats in the attic and still has them in the shed, I know what a mess they can make, and I understand the desire to move them out.

Mr. Nalesnik was afraid that the bats, especially nursing maternal bats, would be killed.  Each of the three Commissioners assured Mr. Nalesnik that the bats would be excluded, but the program would not harm any bats or baby bats.

Think back to about 25 years ago.  Few people would have given any thought to killing bats.  They would have been regarded as pests to be exterminated.  We are making progress.