Bats are beautiful, gentle, and intelligent animals. Currently, bat populations worldwide are declining and nearly half of bat species in the United States are listed as rare, threatened, or endangered. Unfortunately, local populations of bats are often destroyed out of fear; fear that is way out of proportion to the risks that bats present. This can largely be attributed to a lack of understanding for the wonderful ecological benefits that bats provide. The best defense we can offer these wonderful mammals is to learn more about their habits and recognize the value of their living safely among us.

When people think about bats, they often envision things that are not true. Bats are not blind. Most bats see as well as humans. Bats are neither rodents nor birds. Bats are mammals just like humans. Bats will not suck your blood or attack humans. Bats are gentle animals with most species consuming either insects or fruit. Of the world’s 1100+ bat species, only three species in Latin America consume teaspoon amounts of blood. All bats do not carry rabies. Most bats do not have rabies. According to Bat Conservation International, bat rabies accounts for approximately one human death per year in the United States.

Bats and Rabies

Rabies is often the first concern people have about bats. Like most mammals, bats can contract rabies. The United States Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports, “tens of thousands of people are successfully treated each year after being bitten by an animal that may have rabies. A few people die of rabies each year in the United States, usually because they do not recognize the risk of rabies from the bite of a wild animal and do not seek medical advice.

According to the CDC, “people get rabies from the bite of an animal with rabies (a rabid animal). Any wild mammal, like a raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote, or bat, can have rabies and transmit it to people. It is also possible, but quite rare, that people may get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound. People cannot get rabies from just seeing a bat in an attic, in a cave or at a distance. In addition, people cannot get rabies from having contact with bat guano (feces), blood, or urine or from touching a bat on its fur.”

Rabies Prevention

The most important step in preventing rabies transmission is to ensure that your dogs and cats are vaccinated. Do NOT handle any bat with your bare hands and do not attempt to care for any bat on your own. Doing so may endanger the life of the bat as well as your own. Explain to a child that is important to never handle any wildlife and to seek the help of an adult.

If a bat bites you, or if bat saliva gets into your eyes, nose or mouth, contact your physician or local health department immediately. The bat should be captured and sent to the Department of Health and Environmental Control for testing. Bats that are found in a room with a person who cannot dependably rule out physical contact (a sleeping person, a child, a mentally disabled person or an intoxicated person) will also need to be tested for rabies.

If You Think You Have Found A Sick or Injured Bat

It is essential to keep in mind that a grounded bat is more likely to be sick; therefore bats should never be rescued with bare hands. However, less than one half of one percent of bats actually catches rabies. And, ill bats do not search for people to attack. Sick bats will typically look for a quiet spot to die alone.

Wearing thick gloves or using a thick towel, quietly approach the bat and pick it up. Hold the bat securely, but not too tightly. Place the bat into a box or a container with a lid containing small air holes.

To apprehend the bat without physically touching it or injuring it, place a box, coffee can or other similar object over the bat. Using a piece of cardboard, gently slide it between the box and the surface the bat is on (i.e. floor, wall or ceiling). Keeping the cardboard in place, gently turn the container right side up.

Bats are very intelligent and can easily squeeze through a ¼” x ½” crack, so make sure the container is free of large holes and secure. Bring the bat to a local bat rehabilitator.

Any bat that bites a person should be tested for rabies as soon as possible, and post-exposure treatment should begin immediately for the person bitten unless the bat is confirmed negative for rabies.

To learn how to remove a bat from your home, or how to reunite an orphaned pup with its mother, or more about bats in general, visit the Bat World Sanctuary website for complete step-by-step instructions.