QuestionI have a bit of an odd question. 2 weeks ago I was cleaning out my coal stove pipe. The pipe that leads from the stove to the chimney. I had my hand about 6 inches inside the dark pipe, about 12 inches infront of my face. I was actually using a shop vac to suck out any debris in the pipe. I had been running it for a couple mins or so when it felt like something hit my one finger. At first I just thought I must have knocked a piece of debris or something from the top of the pipe or while pushing the vaccum hose in it sprung something back at my hand. It didn't hurt and when I looked at the finger I couldn't see anything at all, no marks or anything. In fact after about 1 min I couldn't even really remember for sure which finger it hit, it was that light in nature.
I later started to worry that what if it was a bat and the bat bit or scratched me?? I began to worry about this. Even though I did not see a bat, or hear anything. I do remember seeing a bat not far behind my house a few months ago. So I started thinking that perhaps it nests in my chimney flue. And since I don't burn the coal stove from about March till November I thought maybe it was a bat in there.
I will admit that I tend to worry a lot about a lot of things. My wife was not with me while I was doing this but she insists it couldn't have been a bat if I didn't see it just a few inches from my face and there was no mark at all, etc. I live in Pennsylvania.
So anyway I guess my question is, should I have much concern over this? Also, would you suggest I seek some kind of counseling? My wife believes I may benefit from some kind of mental health help, as I tend to develop worries very often.
Thanks,
Ricky
Answerwell.... tough question.... if it is a bat, then you need rabies vaccine.... but I would think you would have scared a bat away with a shopvac and going up the tube..... that would scare any critter away. So I would think you are ok.... hard to believe a bat would sit around and nibble at you with all that racket.
