N.H. elementary school closed after hibernating bats found

A New Hampshire elementary school was closed Monday for a “thorough inspection” after hundreds of hibernating bats were found in the building. 

Donna Magoon, the superintendent for the Newport School District, said in a statement to families on Monday that the inspection of the Richards Elementary School identified areas where the bats were entering the building. She said the flying mammals were found to be largely occupying an older part of the school. 

“The bats have been finding their way into the occupied area of the building through small holes in ceiling tiles and other gaps around pipes,” Magoon said. “Today, our facilities team worked diligently to seal all the holes/gaps in the ceiling tiles and any openings around pipes in the areas of concern.”

The superintendent told WMUR that the “hundreds” of hibernating bats were discovered after inspections were conducted in response to some staff reporting they weren’t feeling well. 

“They were hiding in poles, they were hanging from ceilings, they were everywhere,” she told the station.

According to WMUR, the school discovered the issue in mid-December.

Dawn Whitehouse, who attended the elementary school in the 1980s, told the station that bats have been in the building for decades, recalling one landing on a classmate’s desk. 

“Sometimes, a student would get to go up [to the attic] with a teacher to take a glance at it,” she said.

Magoon informed families on Friday that the school would be closed on Monday for further inspections after a bat was observed flying in the building.

“Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and we are taking this situation very seriously,” she said. 

Magoon said no bats were spotted during Monday’s inspection, which she noted is “not unusual since they often hide in small spaces and behind insulation while hibernating.”

“To address this issue proactively, we will be contracting with someone to look for any signs of bat movement,” she said. “This will be happening roughly every 2 weeks. Also, our facilities team will conduct inspections to ensure that all ceiling tiles remain intact, and any damaged tiles are promptly replaced or repaired.”

Magoon said a “bat eviction process” will start in March, which will see the entry points for the animals sealed off and a one-way exit door installed to allow the bats to leave. 

In the meantime, Magoon said the elementary school is set to reopen on Tuesday.