THOMASVILLE — As of Monday, the historic Thomas County Courthouse had been bat-free for a week.

Two weeks ago, Thomas County government building maintenance director Lyndall Knight was notified about two bats in the emergency stairwell between the annex and the main building.

“There were two little bats on either side of a door,” Knight said.

Knight scooped up the bats with a cup and deposited them in shrubbery at the 225 N. Broad St. building.

“The next morning I got a call about a bat on the front porch of the commission office,” he said. 

A parcel delivery person pointed out the bat on the porch and one in shrubbery. Again, Knight scooped up the little nocturnal mammals and put them in shrubbery.

Said Knight, “The next morning, no bats.”

However, seven baby bats were in the emergency stairwell the next morning.

“They were coming in from flying all night and coming through a faulty metal roof hatch,” Knight said.

On one occasion in recent days, young bats were found in a covered area at the front of the Thomas County Judicial Center across Madison Street from the historic courthouse.

Knight surmised the young bats were looking for a place to roost during the day after a night of heavy traveling.

The historic courthouse experienced a pigeon problem before restoration and renovation of the 159-year-old structure several years ago. The bothersome birds were coming in through the clock tower.

The problem was corrected when old hardware cloth was replaced with galvanized, rust-resistant hardware cloth.

Although the bat problem appears to be a thing of the past, Knight is checking both buildings daily for the fuzzy fliers.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820