NPR: Video: World's Cutest Bat (UPDATED)

Video: World's Cutest Bat (UPDATED)

Name NPR's pet bat/Video by Bill Chappell and Wright Bryan

If you were a little bat spending December alone in the city, you would probably be more than capable of finding ways to enjoy your solitude. Eating at irregular hours; sleeping all day; not shopping for a whole colony's worth of Christmas presents -- all these things could easily become rewards in themselves.

But let's say that hasn't worked out that great for you -- and you're feeling a little ignored in all the holiday bustle. Would it help if a group of people kept an eye on you, and reported on your daily activities? No? Too stalkerish? How about we throw in a camera crew?

Yes, it has come to this.

With people clamoring to see more of the bat blogged about two days ago, I went with my pal Wright Bryan to see how this bat -- this little silver-haired bat living in the side of a building -- would come off on camera.

I admit, we were a little worried about making an interesting video. After all, he or she is basically a bat whose main trick seems to be sleeping in noisy places. But I think both of us felt all those worries fall away when we realized how cute this darned bat really is.

Anyone think its face looks like a cat's?

Andrew Prince/NPR

We didn't really want to have a "Bat-Cam" -- a good thing, since we don't have one. So we made a video, with the help of video gurus John Poole and David Gilkey, of the bat in various states of repose. And the bat seemed open to the idea -- instead of sleeping on its side, with its back to the world, we found a bat helpfully looking out toward the world.

It was a sidewalk photo-op, and we took advantage. I guess you could call us batarazzi -- but, you know, well-intentioned batarazzi.

Bill Chappell

6:02 AM ET | 12-13-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

So, where in DC is this cute bat?

Sent by Sean | 7:35 AM ET | 12-13-2007

@Sean: I'd be scared to tell. If I knew.

Sent by Laura Conaway, NPR | 9:07 AM ET | 12-13-2007

Sean, how refreshing in this old crazy world to see this sweet small creature. Please,more like this to lighten our day and educate our mind of the beauty in the world around us.Thank you!

Sent by Dianne Venable | 11:01 AM ET | 12-13-2007

What about some night time video of the active bat? I'm not saying he's not cute while sleeping, but where does a city bat go at night?

Sent by April | 12:07 PM ET | 12-13-2007

No, no, little bat, please don't listen,
You don't look like a little cat,
You silver hair shines and glistens,
Cats are fine in their domain,
but everyone should know,
a cat could never find its way,
using just an echo.

Sent by Peggy Carey | 12:08 PM ET | 12-13-2007

Thank you for sharing this! Its wonderful!!

Sent by Sarah | 2:18 PM ET | 12-13-2007

It's raining here in DC and pretty miserable outside, so I decided to pay the bat a quick visit. He/she is nice and snug, and seems to be managing to stay dry. Reminds me of my tuxedo cat Dizzy taking a nap - if dizzy had wings and could perch on your thumb.

Sent by andy carvin, npr | 3:53 PM ET | 12-13-2007

This is so sweet and innocent.

Thanks for this report!

Sent by Erika Hirsch | 5:49 PM ET | 12-13-2007

Is little Bat hibernating? I could use a long nap too......

Sent by Anne | 7:42 PM ET | 12-13-2007

The video of this adorable bat made my day! Thank you!

Sent by Barbara Gately | 9:13 PM ET | 12-13-2007

Thank you--this made my day! 'Nature finds a way,' as Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park.

Sent by Marty Lou | 9:14 PM ET | 12-13-2007

I'm not really sure this is the world's cutest bat. It's cute -- don't get me wrong -- but I have the feeling that any other bat of the same age and health, etc., would be just as cute if it were there. But that's the thing, no other bat *is* there. That bat is. In the middle of New York. So I suggest that this is, in fact, the world's *ballsiest* bat. But is it a guy or a girl bat?

Sent by David Newberry | 3:08 AM ET | 12-14-2007

Thanks so much for the update on the DC bat! I agree that it could be the world's "ballsiest" bat - I can't believe it's, in effect, hiding in the wide open, and so close to people. Amazing!

Sent by Kristi | 11:28 AM ET | 12-14-2007

Silver-haired bats can endure winter quite nicely and unlike other bats don't hibernate in winter in cold climates. Nearly all North American bats are small, furry, wild and cute. But maybe you have to be a caver to think like that.
Hang tight, little guy!

Sent by Jo Schaper | 9:35 PM ET | 12-14-2007

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