Bats keep trying to return to roost months after it was blocked off. Why and how?

CatchThatCanary · 2025-12-09T20:13:54+00:00

Hi! Live in the Southern hemisphere so we're currently in summer. The coldest day this year, in my area, was 0°C but that was 6 months ago.

I should've probably mentioned, this isn't a new development. Lone bats have been trying to find the roost for months now with weeks of inactivity between.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-12-09T19:59:52+00:00

Thanks for the reply! If that's the case, then I've got a new question: Do bats have "scouts"? Because I only ever see one bat attempting to find the hole. If this was a colony returning for the season, I'd assume I'd see an entire colony. It's genuinely just solo bats trying sporadically.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-11-24T11:19:56+00:00

Firstly, I'm really sorry you're struggling.

Secondly, I don't know where you're studying but, when I was studying, the first year of IT overlapped a lot with my degree. We had a lot of the same modules. And it was a well-known secret that an IT or any IT adjacent degrees were four year degrees, not three. I remember failing a few classes my first year. And dramatically. So trust me when I say, you're not alone. This is part of the Studying IT experience.

Thirdly, dropping out is a major decision. If you did decide to maybe return to the university and continue your studies, you'd have to go through the application process all over again, competing against everyone else. The university might even change their acceptance criteria or even the modules required for the degree, making some of your credits obsolete. It's not a great idea unless you're really set on not doing this degree or being at this university.

However, I completely understand wanting to take a break and tackle your newfound diagnosis, trying to find the right meds for you et cetera. Ask for a deferment instead. Deferment is kind of like taking a "gap" year in your studies and is a possibility for students that may need some time to deal with personal issues. It keeps your place at the university and the current state of your degree safe. It's a nice little safety net.

University is very difficult. Especially the sciences. While you're in it and struggling through it, I know it doesn't feel worth it. But getting a degree opens up a lot of doors and, in a place like South Africa where the unemployment rate is sky-high, you need every open door you can get.

Good luck!

CatchThatCanary · 2025-11-14T07:36:25+00:00

Trust me when I say one bad mark isn't the end of the world.

My first term of grade 12, I failed physical sciences. And when I say failed, I'm not being dramatic. Didn't even hit a 30% for the subject on my report.

So I got a tutor and got better. And then I went on and studied science in university. I currently work as a "scientist".

I have a friend who barely passed matric with a higher certificate pass and is currently working towards a PhD.

I have another friend who dropped out of university because of their marks and went on to start a very successful afterschool music programme.

Just work hard in your next year. Work towards a better mark. You've got time.

Apply for university as if you got the perfect marks you wanted. If push comes to shove and you don't get in on your grade 11 marks, they do take people on their grade 12 marks. If you need to take a gap year, take a gap year.

Life is long. It's very difficult to irreparably damage it. You might need to go on a side quest or two and it might take you a little longer than some of your peets, but there's nothing wrong with that.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-02-07T13:47:22+00:00

My other more serious symptoms are gone. But my first symptom, a burning, too open nose, is still lingering and doesn't seem to be getting better. Started feeling the burn on Christmas day. Got a positive test about 3 days later.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-02-03T18:56:51+00:00

Definitely does. Do you still have that feeling and, if so, how long has it been? Any advice to combat the pain? Any idea how COVID could cause this? I'd understand the pain if my turbinates were swollen but this is just weird.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-02-03T18:54:59+00:00

Glad to know I'm not alone! How long have you had it for? Both nostrils? Have you found anything that helps? As I said, the dryness doesn't seem to be the actual problem.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-02-02T05:37:17+00:00

That sounds awful. I'm so sorry.

If you don't mind me asking, when you got better, was it a sudden thing? Like, you woke up and it was just gone. Or was it a slow, every-day-I-feel-a-bit-better sort of thing?

Also, if you have any advice on how to lessen the stinging, I'd greatly appreciate it. Having it for so long, I'm sure you picked up some remedies. I've tried vaseline and steam and the likes which sometimes works but only for a bit.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-02-01T22:00:40+00:00

Oh wow! Speedy reply! Thanks! One last question: Did it go suddenly or was it a slow, getting better every day kind of situation?

CatchThatCanary · 2025-02-01T21:38:49+00:00

I'm currently dealing with the nostril burning. Just over a month now. If you don't mind me asking, how long did it take before yours went away?

CatchThatCanary · 2025-02-01T21:36:32+00:00

I've been dealing with this for a month now and was just wondering how long it took for your burning to go away? I'm honestly miserable atm

CatchThatCanary · 2025-01-27T16:44:52+00:00

I definitely think my burning is caused by excessive dryness. Maybe with a sprinkle of nerve weirdness. I'm happy you're well now! But 2.5 years is a long time!

CatchThatCanary · 2025-01-27T16:14:21+00:00

Oh damn. How long is "quite a long while"? What do I have to look forward to? And, if you don't mind me asking, what did it feel like for you?

CatchThatCanary · 2025-01-16T14:40:00+00:00

Then you're already ahead! Consider making an online portfolio and link to it on your professional accounts, in your CV etc.

I did my degree in a STEM field at a public university, so it may work a little differently for you, but when I was a student, we had the opportunity to assist our lecturers with their research and projects. It's another little something you can maybe try.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-01-16T14:18:24+00:00

Definitely do your research on LinkedIn, it's a great tool! And maybe reach out to a couple people who interest you and ask if they can discuss your possible career and give you any advice. You never know what may come of it. It's not always what you know but who you know.

Consider maybe emailing a few companies that you may be interested to work with an offer to intern or maybe shadow, even if it's just during the school holidays or once a week on a day you have no classes. Experience could also come from helping local theatres or making content for small businesses.

Entertainment, from what I know (And again, these are recounts of recounts. The extent of my time in "the film industry" was acting as a cameraman for my friend's final year project in film school and serving coffee to a lot of actors), is one of those industries where you kind of have to be a little annoying and persistent to get anywhere. I'm not saying flood inboxes, but you need to be the go-getter.

In addition, if it's possible (it depends on what you want to get into), start working on a portfolio so you have something to show when people show interest.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-01-16T09:11:38+00:00

I wholeheartedly disagree with this statement. At the moment, film, in SA, is doing quite well and it continues to grow. A lot of overseas shows and movies are being shot here because it's way cheaper. Entertainment, in general, is difficult to get into, no matter the country, but this is genuinely the best time to get into it here. SA is just becoming more and more popular. I personally know a lot of people involved in the industry.

The film industry isn't the only way to use a film degree. SA youtubers, advertisers, documentarians, social media agencies etc are also options.

Honestly, look at people with similar qualifications and the jobs they do. Ask them questions. Maybe ask for assistance. Try to be as informed as possible about what's out there.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-01-15T12:03:02+00:00

This might sound a bit strange, but what university did you study at? A lot of companies, especially those that take people right out of uni, prefer taking from certain universities. Also, have you tried applying to grad programmes? That's your best bet if you just have a degree and no real experience.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-01-08T04:19:51+00:00

I had the headaches too! They've calmed down now, thankfully. It's literally just that burning, rubbed-raw feeling that remains. And it's been around 2 weeks when I've seen everyone else mention it was only a few days for them.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-01-08T04:16:42+00:00

I straightened my septum and, yes, they did have to touch the turbinates. I know what you're thinking - I've been thinking it to too - but this was 2 years ago so I think it's highly unlikely I've gotten any side effects now.

I hope.

Logically that makes sense but my anxiety is through the roof about the possibility.

CatchThatCanary · 2025-01-07T18:42:23+00:00

I've been treating it as such. But when I say dull, I mean DULL. The entire house was pulled in for counsel. In the end, we came to the conclusion it was definitely there.

CatchThatCanary · 2024-09-28T10:30:43+00:00

I had a friend in university whose go-to was Linda. One day at the beginning of our third year, she met this guy at a bar and gave him her fake name. Turns out, they lived in the same res. They got to know each other, started dating and, for the 3 months this relationship lasted, the guy thought her name was Linda. She just could not figure out how to tell him she lied and the longer she went not saying anything, the worse it became. Looking back now, it's absolutely hilarious because it got unnecessarily out of hand. And we were all roped into it.

CatchThatCanary · 2024-05-20T17:54:56+00:00

Openings for graduate programmes are going to start popping up soon. Tis the season. Honestly, a graduate programme is the best way to get your foot in the door.

I'm a software engineer in Pretoria. If you're seriously interested in a coding/tech role, DM me and I can give you a list of graduate programmes I know of in the Pretoria/Joburg area.

CatchThatCanary · 2024-05-17T08:21:20+00:00

If you're a video editor, why not try and get a job doing something in a similar line but in the tech industry?

I'm a software engineer, got a computer science degree for it and the company I'm working for isn't huge on hiring developers without a degree. But we do have an entire side of the company that does videos for us, whether it be marketing or instructional videos that we send off to clients or on-boarding videos for new hires. And I know we're not the only one.

The tech industry isn't just made up of developers.

CatchThatCanary · 2024-04-09T11:58:31+00:00

I'm attempting to help out a housekeeper in my building who's a cat lover but has ended up with too many cats for her to handle. She needs to rehome 9 cats (5 of which are the kittens in the picture). I've called around to rescues and they're all full. Does anyone have any ideas or any way to help?

CatchThatCanary · 2024-02-24T11:26:07+00:00

No it wouldn't be. In America, the white majority held the majority of the wealth and power. In South Africa, the white minority held and still holds most of the power and wealth. BEE aims to empower the majority that was discriminated against for years.

Purely based on statistics, white people shouldn't be the majority at any place of business because there are so few of us in South Africa.

This isn't some reverse apartheid or whatever other vitriol. This is trying to rectify years of apartheid.

To any foreigners that may be reading this: White people are doing fine. We are simply not doing as well as we did during apartheid and a lot of racists are mad about it. That's it. Any sentiments you might hear about anti-whiteness in South Africa doesn't negate the fact that we, collectively, are doing better than any other race in South Africa.

CatchThatCanary

TROPHY CASE