Bat (they are not rodents) on the loose in Capitol.

batpatrolFor the last hour or so, a bat has been flying back and forth between the Capitol and the Legislative Office Building. It’s an annual occurrence when one of the  mammals of the order Chiroptera – they are not rodents – finds its way through a hole in a wall or ceiling of the 1878 Capitol, then takes a hurried flight. Often, it ends with the scared little beast finally tiring itself out, when it can be captured and released outside.

At about 1:45, the Blogster was in the LOB, walking past the bill room and into the low, underground walkway leading to the Capitol when a bat came flying right at his head. Using its radar to slip out of the way, the bat then had a clear lane to the LOB atrium, a soaring, six-story space with a glass ceiling, where it flapped around to the bemusement of lobbyists and staffers. Still, it eventually headed back to the Capitol, where custodian Manuel Estrada, (left, photo by Dixon) was dispatched to round it up, if he can.