Despite what it may seem, bats live in many types of habitats, not just our attics, walls, chimneys and barns…they also like to live in our shutters, closed patio umbrellas, brick columns, and just about any place that is cozy enough and protected enough! But, in reality, bats DO live quite happily without man made structures. They live in rocky outcrops, cliffs, caves, under bark, and in dead tree snags, although they also love man made bridges, mines and tunnels.
Bat Habitat
Do All Bats Have Rabies?
Many people are concerned about contracting rabies from bats. Like many wild animals, bats can and do contract rabies; however, it has been estimated that only about ½ of 1% actually do. Around the world, the vast majority of human rabies cases come from contact with a rabid dog. Here in America, with so many of our dogs vaccinated against rabies, the majority of human cases do come from contact with rabid wildlife. Fortunately human rabies cases are quite rare in the U.S, since rabies is nearly 100% fatal. Once symptoms manifest, it is too late to save someone. Rabies can be easily prevented by taking the rabies vaccine immediately after exposure. You cannot get rabies from guano (bat feces) or bat urine, but some callers have expressed concern about histoplasmosis.
If you have been bit by a bat (which is rare), be sure to go to the nearest hospital for treatment. Bats by nature are very calm and gentle, so if they do exhibit aggressive behavior such as biting, there is a good chance that the bat has contracted rabies and you do need to seek treatment immediately.
A Bat Bite?
Did it Bite?
If there is any chance that a bat or any wild animal may have bitten someone in your household, you should contact your public health agency. If you have a bat in your house and are unsure if it has bitten someone, it should be captured if possible, and your public health agency should be called. If you are confident that it hasn’t had any human contact, it can be released to the outdoors. It is extremely rare that bats will bite a person. If bats are displaying aggressive behavior, such as biting, they may have rabies. 
A Sick Bat?
Be aware that bats are not necessarily sick because they hang on your front porch. Bats like to do this and that can be normal behavior. It’s normal for them to live under shingles and in attics and to fly around your porch light. A bat on your front lawn, in daytime however, may be sick. NEVER touch a wild animal! And if your cat or dog has had contact, call your veterinarian, even if your pet has had its vaccinations. Let your vet guide you in what needs to be done.
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Don’t Kill Bats
Kill Bats? Perhaps you are wondering if there is a quick and dirty way to perform your own bat removal. You are probably thinking there has to be a way I can do this myself! But remember bats are a vital part of our eco-system, eating many insects (including mosquitoes) as part of their nightly diet. A favorite culinary delight of the Mexican Free-tailed is the corn earworm moth. The Pallid loves scarab beetles. He also is known to eat grasshoppers, moths and termites, among other things.
So please don’t kill bats. We can help you. Really. At times you may be able to do your own bat removal, but if you notice that you have a colony of bats, call Western Bat Specialists. We love bats, we don’t kill bats and perform exclusions that are safe and humane with the welfare of our winged creatures being our primary concern.
