Filed under: City Living
Now that we've fallen in love with this silver-haired bat, perched in a crevice in Washington, D.C., we've decided to give it a name.
Listeners, drop suggestions in the comments. Should we call the bat Rover? Wanda? Benjamin Franklin? Hmmm.....
Ed: The results of the naming contest are in / and the bat is GONE.
7:48 AM ET | 12-14-2007 | permalink
How about Charaka? It is a boy's name which means vagabond or wanderer.
Frank or Francine.
Metro?
Luke in honor of Luke's leaving. At least a part of him will still be in the east coast.
Damascus the bat
for peace in the middle east
Esme. Our Amazon parrot, whom we got as a rescue, sex unknown, is named Esme, from this (Esme, from THE CHRONICLES OF CLOVIS, by Saky [H. H. Munro]:
"'What on earth are we to do with the hyaena?' came the inevitable
question.
"'What does one generally do with hyaenas?' I asked crossly.
"'I've never had anything to do with one before,' said Constance.
"'Well, neither have I. If we even knew its sex we might give it
a name. Perhaps we might call it Esm??. That would do in either
case.'"
Burbank.
Thumbie
Bat Masterson
Based on the way it's tucked up in that crevice I think Hermit would be fitting. I guess that's a cozy spot for a bat.
I like Burbank, too. Good call. We love you Luke! Good luck to you!
Batty Mcbat Masterson III
Bat Manuel...
If it's a girl, Bat Mitvah
"Wild animal that carries rabies." Just thought you might want to keep that in mind.
As a person who works with wildlife, I find the naming of wild animals denigrating. The whole appeal is in their wildness, so there is no reason to take that away by anthropomorphizing them.
Besides maybe he already has a name among his species and we just can't hear him say it since many of his squeaks are supersonic. (The echolocation squeaks are generally supersonic, above the range of hearing of humans)
That said, I can't seem to stay away from this story.
"Wild Animal That Carries Rabies" is actually Luke Burbank's middle name.
Mr. Bingle, the Christmas Bat
LOL at Tricia! After seeing the suggestion, I agree that we should name him/her Burbank - for Luke! :)
"Burbank Murphy"
Someone at NPR suggested naming it Nina Totenbat.
steroy...
Luke Burbat.
How about Putin? Isn't the bat Vladimir's spy? Maybe Spybat.
And to the person commenting on denigrating wild animals by naming them... when they move into a city, I think giving them a name is highly appropriate. Not only does this make the animal more endearing and better known to the public, it helps remind us that we are constantly encroaching on their habitat, and that they have fewer places for safe retreats.
Name it "Burbank" in honor of Luke's departure. Come on tell me you don't love it...;-)
Stop tell me I love things when I don't Krista. I think he should be called Wind Dancer. Because the wind is a living thing and dance is too.
I appreciate the feedback. I find it interesting that you use the phrase "move into the city." I wonder who was here first, the bats or us? In my experience, making a wild animal "more endearing" endangers the animal as often as it helps them. But I'm starting to feel like the Grinch, so let me just suggest here, again, that everyone visit the Bat Conservation International website. If you love bats (and how could you not love something that eats mosquitos all summer) call your local wildlife agency and get a bat box. You'll very seldom see the bats, but you help insure their survival.
Batmanuel
Commentator Blackster Bat, nocturnal poet and small animal.
". . . probably the nation's most successful living poet perched in a crevice." ??? New York Times
"Good, but indescribably weird and hard to hear." ??? Dallas Morning News
"It's just a tragedy Bram Stoker didn't live to hear this. . . " ??? Johnny Carson
Zenzie
I vote for "Burbank." I'll miss you, Luke. Please never leave, Alison!
This contest is just batty.
Bruce Wayne?
Mark Maguire.
I like Luke Burbat
hehe
How 'bout rabid? Since it probably is, as it's acting strangely roosting that low and in the open.
Squeak. It *is* a bat, you know!
Nina Totenbat
Considering he/she's living on the ground floor of a building facing the sidewalk in a populated city, I'd call him Bat Bleep Insane myself. Other ideas: Deflater (sounds like Die Fledermaus), Bat Bat Leroy Brown, National Public Rabies, Batfink, Corky (as in Corked Bat), Roy (a Blade Runner reference) or Weakly World (in tribute to the departed tabloid's Bat Boy)
How about 'Nipper' 'NPR'.
BRUNO
Bat Friend.
Comrade Bat.
Ron Paul
Samuel L. Jackson
I vote for Mr. Flappypants. Please? He can be friends with Greenpeace's whale.
Hi-Ho Silver.
Merlin. For Merlin Tuttle.
BTW, many insect-eating bats eat more moths than mozzies.
I've got something like 30 different kapok-stuffed toy bats. They all have names, some of which are quite strange.
The original two are Harry (because he's hairy) and Ding (well, you figure that one out}. Ding is a girl, named for Edith Bunker. Our two bat puppets are Radar and Shirley. Any of them would be happy to share their names.
Mr Flappy Pants?? ...no? Too Obvious??
Elbridge Gerry. It's got a classy ring to it.
We like Mr. Bingle is good!
How about Speck? He is just a speck in the wall. :)
For a rational discussion of bats and rabies:
Mr. Flappy Pants, absolutely.
It appears the bat has headed south for the winter. (Or northwest to be with Luke?) I walked by its nesting spot around 8:20 this morning and it was gone.
MR FLAPPY PANTS!!!
cromdor the incinerator
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