A group of women have filed a lawsuit against an Airbnb homeowner after learning that the vacation home they stayed in was infested with a colony of Michigan brown bats after being attacked while sleeping in their beds, resulting in rabies shots.
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Patricia Rooney, Christie Lockhart, Denise Smith, Diana Crites, Jamie Boboltz, Jane Sanderson, Cathy Bennett-Vleck, and their friend rented out a Victorian-style home in Alpena, Michigan for $257 a night in July as they were in town to celebrate their 50th high school reunion. However, the vacation turned into a nightmare when the women were suddenly woke up to ‘screeching sounds’ and saw ‘dark shadows’ moving up and down the walls as reported by the Daily Mail. The lawsuit claims the bats started dive bombing on the group in their beds and more were found coming out of the attic and other bedrooms.
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Although they attempted to protect themselves by using bedsheets as a shield, the bats continued to swoop down on the women, biting them and even being entangled in their hair. The attack continued for hours until the bats left the home at the break of dawn.
Rooney messaged the Airbnb host about the attack, but they responded at 8:37 a.m. The lawsuit states they made about 11 eleven calls during the horrifying night with the bats, and two people had contact with the animals. One person sustained bite marks. An exterminator came to visit the home and discovered bat feces and urine on the basement walls, indicating a long-term infestation.
The Michigan brown bat is a medium-sized bat that is found throughout North America. It is the most common bat species in Michigan and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and urban areas.Michigan brown bats are nocturnal animals and emerge from their roosts at night to feed on insects. They use echolocation to find their prey, which includes moths, beetles, and flies. Michigan brown bats are important members of the ecosystem because they help to control insect populations.
The group is suing Airbnb and the properties owner Drew Wieschowski and co-host Thomas Storey for the ordeal and terror they experienced. They are seeking an undisclosed amount of money to cover their medical bills, legal fees, and damages that was caused due to ‘anguish, severe anxiety, and emotional distress.’