PHOENIX — Armed border militiamen in southern Arizona mistook a group of bat conservationists for illegal immigrants late last month.

The conservationists were conducting a wildlife survey in the Gardner Canyon area, near Sonoita, Ariz., overnight on Aug. 23, when they were met with armed militiamen wearing camouflage and driving all-terrain vehicles, Tucson News Now reported.

“Obviously, they mistook them for smugglers or illegal entrants,” says Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada. “They were armed. They put a spotlight on them.”

The militiamen, who were actually from Colorado, had already called Border Patrol agents, before they realized they group was not attempting to enter illegally. One of the militia members apologized, but it was too late.

“Of course, they weren’t very receptive about the apology. They actually told them that’s something you should not be doing. There’s danger out there. There’s other groups of people in campsites,” Estrada said.

The animal-lovers were in an area of Sonoita known for camping and hiking.

Estrada added that Santa Cruz County does not support border militia groups, believing they cause more harm than good.

This isn’t the first mishap for a border militia in Arizona. Last year, an Arizona Minuteman member was arrested after pointed his rifle at a sheriff’s deputy, thinking he was a drug smuggler.

Back in August, Border Patrol agents in Texas were rounding up border crossers when they met camouflaged individuals they thought were part of the Texas Department of Public Safety. They later learned they were part of a group that called itself the Texas Militia.

Tucson News Now