Why You Should Never Touch a Bat
Why You Should Never Touch a Bat: Health and Safety Tips
Bats are essential creatures, helping to control insect populations and supporting healthy ecosystems. However, if you find a bat inside your home, in your attic, or near a structure where it shouldn’t be, it’s critical to avoid handling it yourself. Here’s why touching a bat is never a good idea and what you should do instead.
Understanding the Risks
Bats around Lake Tahoe can carry rabies and other pathogens that pose serious risks to humans and pets. Rabies transmission from bats to humans is rare, but it’s possible through bites or scratches. Since bat teeth are tiny, even a small, seemingly harmless bat encounter can lead to infection.
Bat Guano and Respiratory Risks
Bat droppings, known as guano, are another concern. Poop is bad, it's pretty simple. While it's well known and talked about that guano can lead to a fungal infection called histoplasmosis, it is important to note it is very rare in California. Histoplasmosis affects the lungs and can feel like a persistent chest cold. If you have been exposed to bat guano and have any concerns, talk to your Primary Care Provider. When guano accumulates in attics within Truckee and Tahoe homes or other enclosed spaces, the risk of inhaling fungal spores increases, but the risk is highest during cleanup, that’s why you should call a professional service like us at Gold Country Wildlife Control.
What to Do if You Find a Bat Indoors
Stay Calm and Keep Distance: Avoid approaching or handling the bat. Open windows or doors to encourage it to leave on its own.
Protect Pets and Family: Keep pets away from the bat, as they may attempt to interact with it and increase the risk of bites or scratches.
Call a Professional: Trained wildlife control experts can safely remove bats without putting anyone at risk. They’re equipped to handle bats in a way that minimizes stress to the animal and keeps your family safe.
Why Professional Help is Key
Professional bat control technicians understand bat biology and know the safest, most effective ways to remove and exclude bats. They can assess for signs of bat activity, properly install one-way doors if needed, and prevent future problems with thorough exclusion work.
Wrapping up. . .
While bats are beneficial in nature, they should never be handled by untrained individuals. If you encounter a bat indoors, remember that keeping a safe distance and calling a professional are your best steps for a safe, humane resolution.
