Armed Border Militia Mistakenly Confronts Group Of Bat Conservationists

In this undated photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a Sturnira lilium, the host species of bat that the influenza virus has recently been detected in, is shown in Guatemala. The surprisi... In this undated photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a Sturnira lilium, the host species of bat that the influenza virus has recently been detected in, is shown in Guatemala. The surprising discovery of genetic fragments of a flu virus is the first well-documented report of it in the winged mammals Scientists suspect some bats caught flu centuries ago and the virus mutated within the bat population into this new variety. (AP Photo/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Amy Gilbert) MORE LESS
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Conservationists studying bats in Arizona were recently confronted by a group of armed militia members who confused them for border crossers or smugglers, a local sheriff told television station KOLD.

The TV station reported on Tuesday that Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada said the militia members were wearing camouflage and were heavily armed when they arrived on ATVs and confronted the scientists on the night of Aug. 23.

“Obviously they mistook them for smugglers or illegal entrants,” said Estrada. “They were armed. They put a spotlight on them.”

The scientists reported the incident to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office and were unreceptive to the militia’s apology. Estrada said the confrontation luckily didn’t turn violent but noted that the volunteer militia isn’t welcome in Santa Cruz County.

“They really don’t accomplish anything,” Estrada said. “They really don’t. With about a 1,000 border patrol agents here in Santa Cruz County, a little group of militia men are not gonna make any difference at all. As a matter of fact, they’re going to get in the way and they could get hurt. Or they could hurt somebody else.”

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