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Do Bats Carry RabiesBats are the only mammals in the United States that can fly and they belong to their own class of mammals called Chiroptera.[1] Chiro is a Latin word for hand, while pteron means wing. In other words, Chiroptera means “hand wing.”

Bats have hair on their bodies but their wings are hairless. They come in many colors, from black and brown to red and gray. They tend to have large ears that allow them to have excellent hearing.

While bats are very interesting creatures, they are still wild animals. You should avoid approaching them because they could become defensive or afraid, putting you at risk of being attacked. Unfortunately, bats can carry the rabies virus, which means being attacked could cause you to contract it.

If you have bats inside of your home, you should call a professional wildlife removal company to trap and relocate them. If you come in contact with a bat, you should consider seeking immediate medical attention to ensure you have not contracted rabies.

In this article, you will learn:

  • What is rabies
  • Can bats have rabies
  • Signs that a bat has rabies
  • What to do if you find a bat in your room or house

What is the Rabies Virus?

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system. It is preventable among humans and animals through the use of a rabies vaccine. However, if rabies is contracted and a vaccine is not provided, it will lead to death.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Once the virus infects the central nervous system and clinical symptoms appear, rabies is fatal in 100% of cases.”[2]

Rabies is transmitted through bodily fluids. You can contract it from an infected animal if they bite or scratch you. It is most commonly transmitted to humans from dogs.

The incubation period for rabies is between 2 to 3 months. Initial symptoms include a fever and pain or tingling at the wound site. Eventually, rabies can cause symptoms like hyperactivity, excitability, hallucinations, lack of coordination, and hydrophobia (fear of water).

Do Bats Transmit Rabies?

Unfortunately, bats do carry rabies. Simply touching a bat will not cause you to contract the disease. You must come in contact with bat guano (feces), blood, or saliva from an infected bat. It is important to note that not all bats have rabies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released important facts about bats and rabies, including:[3]

  • Bats are the most common animal in the U.S. to have rabies
  • Most Americans who died of rabies were exposed to a bat with rabies
  • Bats with rabies are found in every state of North America aside from Hawaii

If you regularly handle bats, you must receive a rabies vaccination. You should not handle bats unless you are a trained professional. If you believe that a bat has rabies, you must contact animal control and the public health department.

How to Tell if a Bat Has Rabies

Bats play a vital role in our ecosystem, so you should not go around eliminating bats out of fear of rabies. Not every bat you come across will carry the disease. That said, you should be aware of the signs of rabies so you can keep a safe distance from infected animals.

The signs of rabies among bats include:

  • Activity during the day, as they are nocturnal animals
  • Finding bats in unusual places, like on the ground or in a home
  • Easily approachable or affectionate
  • Being unable to fly
  • Increased aggression towards other animals and humans
  • Appearing like they are staring off into space
  • Making a lot of strange noises or weird movements

It is important to note that not all bats with rabies will behave abnormally. The only way to be sure is to have the bat tested for rabies. That said, you should never approach a bat, even if you are hoping to have it tested.

If rabies exposure is suspected after a bat bite or scratch, you should seek medical attention immediately. The only way to prevent yourself from experiencing life-threatening effects is to receive a vaccine and have the wound properly cleaned.

What Should You Do if There are Bats in Your Home?

If there are bats inside of your home, they could have rabies. They usually avoid humans and other animals that could be seen as predators. Because of this, you should immediately call for assistance when finding bats in your home.

At Nuisance Wildlife Rangers, we can safely trap and remove bats from your home. If they are suspected of having rabies, we will bring them to the proper location for testing and to keep them away from other animals and humans in the environment.

Get Connected to a Bat Removal Company

If there are bats in your home, Nuisance Wildlife Rangers are here to help. With years of experience in the wildlife control industry, we can successfully remove bats and any other animals from your home. We use an ethical approach to animal removal, which means we will not harm any creatures in the process.

Contact us today for more information on our bat removal services.

References:

  1. The U.S. Department of the Interior: 13 Awesome Facts About Bats
  2. The World Health Organization (WHO): Rabies
  3. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Preventing Rabies from Bats
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