Bat mystery on Lake Michigan

Apr 10, 2012
18
Last Sunday, me and my buddy, were crossing Lake Michigan back to Waukegan, IL from St. Joseph , MI on my Hunter 260.
Almost in a middle of the lake, 30 miles from shore, the yellow looking bat come from nowhere and jumped right on my T-shirt, I released the wheel and started shaking the bat off, then she jumped on my body's tummy, he started yelling and shaking it off, finally she flies away.
How come the night creacher, end up in a middle of the lake.
She had the yellow fur and around 3" body. No other boats were visible arround.
 

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
If your looking for weird stories, keep crossing L Michigan.
 

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
I have several, from the bat that knocked himself out on my rigging, to the finches that landed on my shoulder, to the trout that jumped in my neighbors dinghy.
 

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
How come the night creacher, end up in a middle of the lake.
She had the yellow fur and around 3" body.
Was probably migrating and you were the only place for her to rest and recuperate on her journey.
Happens a lot with bats and small land birds when far out at sea. After they rest for a while they will again resume their journey.
 

kito

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Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
Maybe a Northern Yellow Bat? Sounds like he may have started across at night and didn't make it before daylight. Like the old joke.....he just flew 100 miles and dang his arms were tired :)
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,214
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Have had small birds land while way out in the Gulf of Mexico. Migrating, I guess.. we have tried to help the ones who landed by offering water and bread crumbs .. a couple have refreshed and moved on but most have died aboard after a few hours..
 
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
I had that happen with a small bird a couple of years ago. I was, (I don't know, a LONG way outside), just cruising when the wee light of day started showing, and this bird lit on the port deck right beside me. I could tell it was tired, as it made no effort to fly off when it detected my presence right in arms reach. The AP was on, and I had no reason to move, so we just rode that way for an hour I guess. I took a picture actually, but unless you were looking for the bird, it was pointless. Did not want to scare it ya understand.

Go figure, I have done some very black-hearted things in my life, you wouldn't figure this; but I really hope the little bird made it back. Who knows. Rich is probably right in that assessment.

By the way, when's the last time you washed that shirt. I have to say I'll bet it was funny as hell watching you guys get rid of the bat. They don't bother me any, but it is not the most pleasant looking creature though..