Duck your Heads; Bats Flying at Juab High

Juab High School Swarmed With Bats 

Juab High is dealing with a bat infestation at the beginning of the 24-25 school year. A few bats have been seen all summer flying around the gym at volleyball practices. The bats made their presence known to the rest of the school at the volleyball game on September 3rd. The question is why have the bats invaded the high school? The staff at Juab High School thinks they are getting in by vents outside. Because it’s migrating season, the bats have stopped in the high school on their way to Mexico. If you check out Fox 13 and KSL.com you will find that JHS has made the news for the bat problems. The classrooms that are in the gym or near there will be moved for the next week. Mr. Montoya, Mrs. Michell, Mrs. Dinkel’s English class, and choir classes are moving to alternate locations. All the PE classes will be in the hive until they can get the bats out of the gym. P.E. students have been unable to change for their classes. 

 The most common bat in Utah is the Eptesicus Fuscus, better known as the Big Brown Bat. Bats in Utah do not usually hibernate in large groups like they do in many eastern U.S. states. They typically hibernate either in small groups or by themselves. Five Utah bat species migrate each year. They fly south from late August through October and then return in April and May. There’s about 8-10 bats in the rafters. It might take the staff 4 days to 2 weeks to rid the gym of bats. How will they get the bats out? Principal Wohlforth will have professionals come and clear out the bats.

Although this has been an inconvenience for the school it has certainly been a talking point. This time next year we will all be laughing about when bats invaded the school.