Host’s bat on the porch on the morning his father died
The host, Art Bell, tells a brief firsthand story about a little bat that landed on his porch on the morning his father died. It stayed the day and then left. He takes the bat as a possible sign from his father. He ends with his belief that the dead try to let the living know they are still there.
This clip comes from the source recording. AI chose where it starts and ends, so it may start or end a little early or late. The word-for-word transcript is not published. You can hear the source recording on the Internet Archive (file “Ghost to Ghost 2005.mp3”, starting at 35:34). Is this you, or someone you know? Ask for a correction or removal.
The story as told
In a brief on-air story, the host says he believes he had an experience of the kind just discussed when his father passed. He says he was not looking for a sign. He reports that on the morning of his father’s passing, a little bat landed on their porch. It flew virtually right down to his feet on the front porch, which he calls bizarre. The bat stayed the day and then left. He says it was fine. He gives no further details about the date, the location, or whether anyone else saw it. He ends by saying he thinks those who pass try to let those who remain know in some way, sometimes very graphically, that they are still there. He then greets the next caller. The story rests entirely on the host’s own word. No second witness speaks, and no physical evidence or documentation is mentioned.
Reported events, in order
- 0:00
The host says he believes he had an experience of the kind just discussed when his father passed.
- 0:09
He says he was not looking for a sign.
- 0:12
He reports that a little bat landed on their porch on the morning of his father’s passing.
- 0:20
He describes the bat flying virtually down to his feet on the front porch, staying the day, and then leaving. He calls it bizarre.
- 0:33
He ends by saying that those who pass try to let those who remain know they are still there, sometimes very graphically.
Claims
Each claim is labeled as something the person telling the story noticed (observation), what they made of it (interpretation), something others told them (hearsay), or something the host said (host statement).
- observation· 0:12
A little bat landed on the host’s porch on the morning of his father’s passing.
- interpretation· 0:33
The host takes the bat as a sign that those who pass try to let those who remain know they are still there.
Scores, with reasons
An AI model gave these scores using a fixed set of scoring rules (scoring-v1). They are editorial judgments and rough guides, not the odds that anything paranormal happened. How scoring works.
This is a firsthand story, but it is very brief. The bat observation is concrete but minimal, with no details that can be checked. An ordinary explanation (bat behavior and coincidence) fits easily. The host clearly separates what he saw from what he makes of it.
Evidence for and against
- The host is a firsthand witness. He says, [quote withheld]
- He names the animal, the location, and the timing, and he separates observation from interpretation: [quote withheld]
- No details that can be checked, such as names, dates, or places. No other witnesses.
- A bat on a porch has a plausible ordinary explanation, and the host does not address it.
- The story is very short. The exact date, the location, and whether anyone else saw the bat are not given.
- 0:12
- 0:33
What the model inferred (not said on air): The score reflects a brief firsthand story with few specifics and an easy ordinary explanation, partly offset by the clear line between observation and interpretation.
Only the host’s word is present. No physical evidence, documents, or other witnesses are mentioned.
Evidence for and against
- Firsthand testimony from the host.
- Not backed up by anyone else. No names, dates, or records to check.
- None beyond the general lack of detail.
- 0:12
What the model inferred (not said on air): Nothing in the transcript allows independent verification.
The story is brief and gentle. A bat landing on a porch is not frightening in itself, and the host’s reading of it is comforting rather than threatening.
Evidence for and against
- The host describes the bat as harmless: “it was fine.”
- No threat, intrusion, or lasting dread.
- None beyond the brevity of the story.
- 0:20
What the model inferred (not said on air): Low fear factor for entertainment.
The frame is familiar: an animal appearing as a sign after a death. One detail is distinctive: the bat flew down to the host’s feet and stayed the day.
Evidence for and against
- An animal sign after a death is a known motif. The bat’s specific behavior is unusual.
- The core idea of a nature sign after a death is not new.
- The very short story limits the assessment.
- 0:20
What the model inferred (not said on air): A score of 50 for a familiar frame with one distinctive detail.
Scoring confidence 0.45 · analysis confidence 0.60 · checked against outside sources: no · evidence available: The host’s firsthand on-air story. No physical evidence, recordings, or other witnesses are indicated.. The originality score blends the model's score (50) with how rare the story's details are across the archive. This method is still provisional.
Ordinary explanations to consider
These are possibilities only. None is a finding about what happened.
- Ordinary bat behavior happened to coincide with the father’s death. · The bat may have been a local animal that landed and stayed for natural reasons such as illness, disorientation, or roosting. Its appearance on the morning of the father’s death may have been a coincidence.
What stands out
The speaker is the host rather than a caller. The reported sign is a bat, an animal less commonly cited in ghost-story death omens. It behaves unusually by landing on a porch and staying through the day.
Related stories
Matched by shared recurring details, categories, and wording.