Hundreds of bats infest elementary school, NH officials say. ‘They were everywhere’
A bat found flying in an elementary school caused panic inside the New Hampshire building, school officials say.
Then, hundreds more were discovered, according to news reports.
“They were hiding in poles, they were hanging from ceilings, they were everywhere,” Newport School District Ssuperintendent Donna Magoon told WMUR of the bat infestation at Richards Elementary School.
After the discovery of the initial bats, Monadnock Pest and Wildlife Services conducted an inspection of the school, which was closed Jan. 6, Magoon said in a Facebook post.
The inspection revealed the bats had flown in from an “older part of the building,” according to the superintendent.
“The bats have been finding their way into the occupied area of the building through small holes in ceiling tiles and other gaps around pipes,” she said in a Jan. 6 Facebook post. “Today, our facilities team worked diligently to seal all the holes/gaps in the ceiling tiles and any openings around pipes in the areas of concern.”
School officials estimated “hundreds” of bats had migrated into the building for their hibernation, according to WMUR and the Eagle Times.
They were described as “huge” — about the size of a hand, Magoon told the Eagles Times.
The bats were not found during the inspection, which the superintendent said was not unusual because they often hide in small spaces while hibernating.
The superintendent remained in contact with health officials, who agreed the school was safe to open Jan. 7. A contractor will respond to the school every couple of weeks to monitor “signs of bat movement,” Magoon said.
“We plan to start the bat eviction process in March. This process involves sealing off their entry points and installing a one-way exit door to allow them to leave without re-entry,” she said in a statement. “Please rest assured that the health and safety of our staff and students remain my top priority. I will always err on the side of caution to ensure a safe learning environment.”
Richards Elementary School is in Newport, about a 40-mile drive northwest from Concord.