Kip’s Comments - August 2, 2026

Two Marlins and One Jim

While at the Bremer County Fair I received a call about a bat in a home. The reporting party was not able to find the bat, so I was called.

Eventually I made my way to the scene of the great bat caper where I enlisted the help of two people. I was thinking the collective animal capturing prowess of the three of us might make it possible to quickly find the intruding bat that would then be captured and released. Well, that did not exactly happen.

The three of us did some searching with no luck. After all, bats can be quite small and difficult to find. Then I found it, hanging nearly hidden behind a router. The question was, how were we going to capture the bat from the tight space where it was found.?

My trusty assistants quickly and, without announcing it, changed roles. Both became like Marlin Perkins from the TV show “Wild America.” You might remember that when there were animals to capture, especially species most were uncertain about, Marlin was the talking face on the show while Jim Fowler did the work. That happened to us. I was Jim capturing as two Marlins supported me.

I must give credit too. My two Marlins fulfilled their roles well. There was advice given, verbal chatter… the stuff Marlins do. Meanwhile I was on the step stool moving things to gain access to the bat.

Eventually I had the bat secured where we were able to release it to fly wild again. I did what Jim Fowler did. I caught the beast. My two Marlins did what Marlins do.

Thanks fellas for your help. Obviously this was a light-hearted look at our project. Next time I will stand back (like Marlin) and you two can be Jims.

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