PHOENIX — Phoenix police have some unexpected tenants: bats discovered on the seventh floor of the department’s Plaza parking garage, the department confirmed to ABC15.
The garage is detached and not part of the Police Headquarters Tower, police said.
The bats were found during work to mitigate a water incident at the site, but police said the discovery was not related to that work and had no bearing on vacating or reoccupying the building.
Phoenix police headquarters had been temporarily closed because of a water leak, ABC15 previously reported.
Because the bats are federally protected and migratory, the department said it took no immediate action. Police said a specialized vendor has been contacted to help with next steps.
Arizona is one of the most bat-rich states in the country, and many species roost in bridges, parking structures and buildings in the Valley, especially during migration seasons, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Wildlife officials advise residents never to touch or handle a bat, since a small percentage can carry rabies, and to call a professional if bats take up residence in a home or business.
Police did not say how many bats were found or how long the removal might take.
Sources: ABC15. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
