Bats are fascinating creatures. They’re pollinators and pest controllers; they even help maintain healthy ecosystems. But while they’re cool to watch from a distance, accidentally coming into contact with one is an entirely different story—especially if you’re just casually shopping for mugs at HomeGoods.
That’s exactly what happened to one man in Georgia, who says a run-in with a bat sent him straight to the emergency room for rabies treatment.
Bat Scratches HomeGoods Customer
TikTok user @noluckofficial shared a video from his shopping trip gone wrong, which has racked up over 1.8 million views.
“Well, I’m currently in the ER, but let me show y’all…” he says at the start of the clip. It then cuts to footage inside a HomeGoods store, where he explains what happened.
“I just went to pick up a mug just to be funny,” he says, before switching to his back camera. The shot reveals a row of mugs on a shelf—and wedged between two of them is a small, brown, fluffy creature.
“It’s a literal bat, bro,” he says. “I just got scratched by that.”
He then shows a photo of a small scratch on his finger.
“Someone took the Halloween spirit too seriously… Left out quickly tho to get to ER,” he wrote in the caption. “Don’t know nun about what happened to the bat afterwards.”
The Man Shares More Details In Follow-up Video
In the clip, @noluckofficial says he received rabies shots that day while at the ER.
He also alleged that HomeGoods workers were aware of a bat sighting inside the store but failed to warn customers.
“I’m going to file an insurance report,” he says. “I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure they at least cover the medical expenses.”
As for the bat, he shares that Animal Control couldn’t catch it because “the bat apparently flew away.”
He also addresses people harassing his mother online, who had also posted about the incident, asking them to stop.
What To Do If You Come In Contact With A Bat
There have been two viral bat sightings on TikTok recently: one in a cave in Mexico and, wildly enough, another in a woman’s toilet.
While these encounters make for wild stories, health experts stress that coming into contact with a bat—whether you’ve been bitten or just scratched—should always be treated seriously.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anyone who has direct contact with a bat should immediately wash the area with soap and water and seek medical attention. Rabies is rare but nearly always fatal once symptoms begin, which is why preventive shots are critical.
@noluckofficial Someone took the Halloween spirit too seriously 🦇 Left out quickly tho to get to ER. Don’t know nun about what happened to the bat afterwards Location: Homegoods at 1150 Dawsonville Highway in Gainesville, GA #fyp #viral #homegoods #bat #halloween
Commenters Share Their Thoughts
Appalled viewers shared some advice in the comments.
“Baby, please call a lawyer!” one wrote.
Another added, “First off, you need to file a police report and a report with the store. It’s expensive. Make the store pay!”
“FYI rabies is NOT the only disease bats carry,” one commenter warned. “Make sure you do your research. Hope you are well compensated!”
Someone else empathized, “I have a legitimate irrational fear of coming into contact with one and everyone thinks I’m crazy!!! No dude! Chances are never zero. Ever.”
BroBible has reached out to @noluckofficial and HomeGoods for comment.