Bat Exposures and Removing Bats from Campus Buildings
Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus - USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station - bugwood.org
2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401 – 812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
Bats in Buildings
• 10 species of bats currently reside in Indiana, two of which are endangered.
• Bats habitat in buildings due to deforestation, habitat loss, and curiosity.
• Bats may also be seeking shelter and warmth
• The Big Brown Bat –Eptesicus fuscus is most often the species found living buildings around much of the U.S.
Photo by Dave Redell
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
Are bats dangerous?
Yes•Bats are a common vector for rabies, which is incurable, but only transferrable through bat saliva or more rarely, a scratch. •When bats roost in colonies in buildings over a long period of time, their feces can become a breeding ground for Histoplasmosis –a fungal lung infection
And No • Only 6% of bats captured in the
U.S. for rabies testing have rabies (Center for Disease Control, 2011).
• By sealing potential bat/wildlife entrances (bats can enter into spaces as small as ¼ “), rabies and histoplasmosis can be avoided.
• Bats also provide humans with many benefits
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
Bat Bites and Potential “Exposure”• Bat bites are incredibly
small and difficult to notice.• If you have or think you
have been exposed to bat salvia or bitten by a bat, wash the affected area thoroughly and get medical attention immediately.
Bat bites can be very small and nearly unnoticeable. Source: CDC
What is considered an exposure?• Bat bite, or • bat saliva contacting your eyes, nose, mouth, or wounds.• Circumstances where you don’t know if you were
exposed are considered an exposure, including when:• You wake up and find a bat in the room• Bat found in a room with an unattended child,
someone with a disability, or may otherwise be incapacitated.
Reporting and Testing:• If you were exposed to a bat, please
report to our office. We can arrange to have the bat tested for rabies if it is still available for capture.
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
Handling and removing bats
• Take into consideration the time of year and the annual cycle of the bats.
• If you must handle a bat to remove it from a building – wear thick leather gloves as many bats can bite through thinner layers and materials.
• In many cases, a bat can be nudged into a container with minimal contact.
• Do not release bats outside in the winter.
Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus
Photo by April McKay
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
To Catch a Bat
• Put on leather work gloves• Find a small container,
piece of cardboard with holes punched in it to cover the open end of the container, and some tape.
• Slowly approach the bat after it lands.
• Place the container over the bat slowly and completely.
Hoary batLasiurus cinereus
Photo by April McKay
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
To Catch a Bat• Slide the cardboard
under the container, trapping the bat inside.
• If testing is required (potential exposure), secure the cardboard to the container with tape and contact
• If no testing is needed (no exposure), follow the forthcoming removal guidance.
Photo by Dave Redell
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
To Catch a Bat
• If the bat will not land, or is in an unreachable area, call local animal control.
• If testing is not required, and capture is proving difficult, open all exit doors and windows to allow the bat to escape on its own. This is the easiest option if capture is not a preferable action and professional assistance is not available.
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
Removing Bats in Spring, Fall and Summer
After capture, transport the bat outside and allow them to climb onto a tree.
If the bat does not move once placed on the tree, leave it alone and give it time to adjust. Do not place the bat on the ground or fling it into the air to make it fly.
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
Removing bats from buildings during the winter
• Most bats hibernate during the winter.
• Bats are susceptible to changing weather patterns, and may abandon hibernation prematurely.
• Do not release the bat outside during winter.
Indiana Bats hibernating Myotis sodalis
Photo by US Fish and Wildlife Service
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
Keep the bat in a clean container with ventilation, do not feed or water.
Contact your local animal control to transport the bat to a wildlife rehabilitation center (for IUB: WildCare Inc., 812-323-1313). The bat can
then hibernate until spring when it can be released safely.
Removing bats from buildings during the winter
Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus - USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station - bugwood.org
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
Exclusion and Bat Colonies in Buildings
Bat colonies: If there are more than a few individual bats roosting together, contact a professional animal removal service.
Exclusion: any openings larger than ¼ inch can be accessed points and should be sealed. Window screens, chimney caps and draft guards beneath doors to attics can assist. Only ‘bat proof’ in the late fall or winter. If you need technical advice for exclusion, call our office.
Photo by Bat Care LLC, Wildlife Service
Thank you for your time and contact us with any questions
Indiana University – Environmental Health and Safety - 2427 E 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401812-855-2004 – [email protected] – www.ehs.iu.edu
