Chestnut Hill Reservoir in Brighton. Photo: Jay Willett/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Some runners around Brighton are reporting surprise encounters with bats.
The bats sometimes get too close, and can even break skin.
Luckily, the critters are not actually targeting the humans, according to Tim Puopolo, a ranger with the city of Cambridge.
Mosquito larvae usually get their wings around Mother’s Day, Puopolo said, and that means feeding time.
“We will be expecting the mosquito season to just be kicking off this week, which is also the start of all the mosquito-eating animals, including bats,” Puopolo said.
Some other local runners are now on the lookout.
“I haven’t heard about it, but it’s actually kind of scary because, I mean we’re out here every morning walking around and I run around this place a lot, so I don’t want to get attacked by a bat,” said one local resident.
However, Puopolo said these types of situations are not common.
“Having a bat collide with a person out of doors is exceedingly rare,” Puopolo said.
If you have an encounter with a bat, or other wildlife like raccoon and skunks, the city of Boston recommends getting a rabies vaccine.
WBZ's Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports.