Bats Invade Jackson Lake Lodge Ahead of Economic Conference at Grand Teton National Park

Strategic Insights -

High-profile guests, including Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell and European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde, will gather at the Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, Wyo., for the annual symposium. However, their exclusive meeting will be preceded by a rather unusual encounter - a suspected colony of bats has taken up residence at the storied Jackson Lake Lodge. The bats, believed to have entered through a small hole on the roof, have triggered a flurry of activity, with seven of the eight bats captured and screened for rabies, all testing negative. The incident has raised concerns among the Wyoming Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who have reached out to hundreds of people from 38 states who stayed in the affected rooms.

Key Takeaways:

  • A suspected colony of bats recently took up residence at the Jackson Lake Lodge, a venue for an exclusive economic conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
  • The bats are believed to have entered through a small hole on the roof of one of the rooms, causing seven of the eight bats to be captured and screened for rabies.
  • The Wyoming Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reached out to hundreds of people from 38 states who stayed in the affected rooms.
  • Construction on the lodge began around 1950, and the conference has been held at the lodge since 1982.
  • Christine Lagarde, the European Central Bank chief, is also confirmed to attend and speak at the conference.
  • The Wyoming Department of Health has reported that only two bats have tested positive for rabies across the state so far this year.
  • The lodge has repaired any potential vulnerabilities and provided information for guests on what to do if they come into contact with a bat.
  • Guests will be advised to remain calm if a bat is spotted and instruction will be provided on what to do next.

Statistics:

  • 259 bats have been tested by the University of Wyoming so far this year, with only two testing positive for rabies.
  • Over 200 reservations were made during the period from May 15 to July 27, affecting over 400 to 500 people.
  • The bats are thought to have entered through a small hole roughly half-an-inch in diameter.
  • The conference has been held at the Jackson Lake Lodge since 1982.
  • Only two bats have tested positive for rabies across the state of Wyoming so far this year.

Sources:

  • The New York Times, "Bats Cause a Stir at Jackson Lake Lodge, Ahead of an Exclusive Gathering at Grand Teton National Park"
  • The Grand Teton Lodge Company
  • The Wyoming Department of Health
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • The University of Wyoming