Hundreds of Bats Force New Hampshire School Closure
The unexpected discovery of hundreds of sleeping bats forced Richards Elementary School in New Hampshire to close its doors Monday. School officials needed time to do a complete safety inspection of the building.
Staff members got sick in mid-December – the first hint that something wasn’t right. The bats had made their way in through small gaps around pipes and broken ceiling tiles in the oldest part of the building.
“The school is taking the situation very seriously and ensuring the safety of students and staff is the top priority,” said Superintendent Donna Magoon in a social media post.
During Monday’s inspection, the bats remained motionless – typical behavior during their winter hibernation. With new safety measures now in place, classes will resume Tuesday.
In March, a careful removal plan kicks off. Workers will block entry points while putting in special exits. These one-way doors will allow bats to exit but keep them from coming back, keeping both students and the unexpected visitors safe.
Maintenance teams now check the building every two weeks. They look for any signs of bats and repair damaged ceiling tiles right away to keep more from getting in.
Professional bat handlers are watching the situation closely. These experts will remain on site until all bats have left the building.
School officials say the closure was just a safety measure. They wanted to do a complete safety check before letting everyone return.
