As we quickly approach Halloween, the Erie County Department of Health is issuing a warning to Buffalo residents about rabid bats. Bats are usually a big part of Halloween, but this may be scarier than horror movies.
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The DOH says that it is imperative to “keep the bat” if you find one in your home. We were off to a warm start this October, but temperatures have begun to dip. When temperatures get low, it causes bats to look for warm places, like attics, to shelter in. Having a bat inside your home can increase your exposure to rabies.
Healthy bats will avoid contact with humans and other animals. Bats infected with rabies can lose their ability to fly and can be found on the ground or in water, where people or pets may encounter them. Bats with rabies are often disoriented, increasing the likelihood that they end up inside a dwelling by accident.
Can Rabies Kill Humans?
YES! Rabies is 100 percent fatal if the person infected is not treated. Rabies is mainly spread through bites or scratches from an infected animal. The virus is most commonly found in bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes. Around 100,000 Americans are vaccinated against rabies each year after potential exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Bats can also wake up out of torpor while hibernating more frequently than some animals. Their body temperature rapidly returns to normal, and they can fly and hunt for food. Bats frequently “wake up” on warm winter days.
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If you find a bat in your home or residence, here’s what you should do:…