Things you don’t get in the UK

[john_morris_uk]

I’m fortunate to have sailed in many places across oceans and all around the world. I’m familiar with taking precautions against cockroaches and mosquitoes and various rodents. Last night was a first for me though. I got up to recycle the rum punch etc and get a drink of water to discover two fruit bats helping themselves in our saloon. Fruit bat droppings everywhere.
I bought the mesh to make a screen for the companionway some time ago, but we close our cabin door so don’t worry too much about the companionway being open. Looks like the sewing kit will have to come out PDQ.

 

[Bouba]

In Africa once I was at a buffet in a tennis club one evening...all the food was laid out on trestle tables under a big tree. While leaning over for some food, I felt wetness on my arm... I looked up and realized that the bats in the tree were pizzing all over the food!..I stopped eating (and warned the wife)...we were only guests...for the members it was a regular event

 

[mjcoon]

In Africa once I was at a buffet in a tennis club one evening...all the food was laid out on trestle tables under a big tree. While leaning over for some food, I felt wetness on my arm... I looked up and realized that the bats in the tree were pizzing all over the food!..I stopped eating (and warned the wife)...we were only guests...for the members it was a regular event

If they eat a lot of fruit there may be a lot of, erm, wetness...

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

While on a charter holiday in December, we visited Marigot Bay in St Lucia, and we found that while tying up, our open saloon had been invaded by some animal that had attacked the fruit hanging up in nets and had scattered lot of fruit-based debris over the furniture. On examination, we found that the debris did not contain anything that looked like rodent droppings and we discovered later that our invader was a black bird, about the size of a sparrow, and that it had absolutely no fear of humans. Digging in lockers we managed to find enough nets to allow us to leave some windows open, but had to close the companionway.

 

[Bajansailor]

Maybe leave some fruit hanging outside as a sort of sacrificial peace offering to the hungry critters?

 

[john_morris_uk]

While on a charter holiday in December, we visited Marigot Bay in St Lucia, and we found that while tying up, our open saloon had been invaded by some animal that had attacked the fruit hanging up in nets and had scattered lot of fruit-based debris over the furniture. On examination, we found that the debris did not contain anything that looked like rodent droppings and we discovered later that our invader was a black bird, about the size of a sparrow, and that it had absolutely no fear of humans. Digging in lockers we managed to find enough nets to allow us to leave some windows open, but had to close the companionway.

Interesting. (We we’re in Marigot Bay) Perhaps we had a visit from him as well.
Definitely bats were part of our problem last night as I saw them. I’m trying to chase them out I managed to chase one into our cabin while Mrs M was asleep. (I should have closed the door!) It had a rest hanging upside down on the locker door to the stern gear.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Maybe leave some fruit hanging outside as a sort of sacrificial peace offering to the hungry critters?

Do you mean as bait to attract their friends to join them?

 

[Bajansailor]

Well, it might stop them from coming below, if they find something nice outside instead - perhaps hanging over the side, so they dont poo on the boat?

 

[john_morris_uk]

Well, it might stop them from coming below, if they find something nice outside instead - perhaps hanging over the side, so they dont poo on the boat?

It might work.
We’re moving to Rodney Bay atm so the problem might have gone away.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Well, it might stop them from coming below, if they find something nice outside instead - perhaps hanging over the side, so they dont poo on the boat?

Perhaps hanging over the water within jumping reach of suitably ferocious fish?

 

[capnsensible]

You don't get a green flash at sunset. Or Dengue fever.

 

[johnalison]

My heart is bleeding.

 

[AndrewB]

A bat is among the odd creatures I've had aboard. Might be a fruit bat, though it was good-mannered enough to only poo on deck.

 

[The Q]

in Saudi, a scorpion stood outside at the door to our compound dining room, tail up....

 

[Praxinoscope]

I was thinking more in the way of a reliable and affordable railway service, than various wildlife.

 

[john_morris_uk]

My heart is bleeding.

Bleeding green?

 

[Roberto]

These are wife and daughters watching a movie while some bats freely wandered inside the boat; there is this tale if they grasp one's hair one has to cut it all.

 

[AndrewB]

Perhaps the most unlikely creature I've found on board ... this little tortoise. Theories welcomed as how it could have got there!

 

[mjcoon]

Perhaps the most unlikely creature I've found on board ... this little tortoise. Theories welcomed as how it could have got there!

View attachment 152201

Aeschylus, an ancient Greek playwright was killed at the age of 67, when an eagle dropped a tortoise on his head. The eagle is said to have mistaken his baldness for a rock and tried to use it to crack the shell of its prey. (In this practice example, just a wake-up call?)

 

[typhoonNige]

It might work.
We’re moving to Rodney Bay atm so the problem might have gone away.

… only to be replaced by the buzzing and possible wetness from tourists on jet skis in my experience anchoring there!