Observe But Don’t Touch Bats!

From the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Bats play a vital role in our ecosystem especially as a natural source of insect control; however each year, there are bats tested in Iowa that are positive for rabies and can pose disease risk to humans, livestock and pets.

Not all bats have rabies, but it's important to recognize possible signs of rabies in bats. Unusual behaviors that could indicate that a bat has rabies include:

• A bat that is active during the day.
• A bat that is found in unusual places (inside a home or on the ground).
• A bat that is unable to fly or is easily approached.

Never touch a bat with your bare hands. If you see strange bat behavior, do not even approach the bat. If you are bitten by a bat, speak with your health care provider about shots (vaccines) to prevent rabies.   A bat bite can be so small that it may be undetectable. If you don’t know if the bat touched you, your family or pet, then you are considered potentially exposed to rabies.

Bats do not chew their way into buildings, but can squeeze through a hole as small as a dime! Keep bats out of your home by fixing torn window screens, broken siding, loose shingles, missing or broken chimney caps, and fill any holes around your home that lead outside.   Exclude bats by watching where they exit the building at dusk, then hang a flap made of clear plastic sheeting or bird netting over these areas. Bats will be able to leave, but not re-enter the building.

If a bat is flying around in your home, don’t try to hit it out of the air. Instead, wait for it to land then safely capture it. If you know the bat didn’t bite a person or pet, release it outside. 

While bats can carry the rabies virus that can make people, pets, and livestock sick, the best way to protect the health of everyone is to protect the natural habitats of bats. When left alone, bats pose little risk. Keeping natural habitats available for bats prevents them from coming into close contact with humans, pets, and livestock; plus keeps bats safe.  Follow these rules to keep you and your family safe, too: 

• Keep barns, garages, and storage buildings closed when not in use.
• Check for and seal small openings where bats might enter to roost.
• Never handle bats with bare hands.
• Vaccinate your pets against rabies.
• Talk with your veterinarian to determine if you should vaccinate horses and livestock for rabies.

For more information, please contact Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care-Allamakee County Public Health at 563-568-5660.