Bat in the House...and It's Not For Halloween

Two bats, one each in Maplewood and South Orange, were found to be rabid in the last several weeks, according to South Orange Health Officer John Festa.  In addition, Festa and his staff have responded to several other calls from residents who found bats in their homes.

Though October is the month when grinning bats leer from windows and Batman is the costume of choice, Festa reminds residents that bats are more than decoration. Bats live among us and sometimes come indoors. With that in mind, Festa reviewed bat basics, as he does regularly through the South Orange Gaslight and the Village website, where residents can find additional bat resources.

First, Festa advises residents not to panic at the idea or even the sight of bats. The big brown and little brown bats, the most common types in our area, are rarely rabid. However, since rabies is often fatal, health officials advise caution in the presence of bats.

A homeowner who discovers a bat indoors should leave the animal alone and call Animal Control by using the South Orange Police Department non-emergency number: 973 763-3000 x7772.

Animal Control will capture the bat and have it tested. Since results are clearer from a bat captured alive than one found dead, residents are urged not to kill an intruder bat. Likewise, risk of disease is greater from a living bat than from a dead bat that a dog might find in a wooden area, for example.

After a bat scratch, clean the wound well and seek medical care. Bat bites are tiny and very hard to see, so residents who discover a bat in the home should seek medical attention quickly.  

Festa reminds residents that an important deterrent to illness is keeping dog and cat rabies shots current. He notes that as difficult as a bat bite is to detect on skin, it's even harder to find under fur. A pet who suffers a bat bite might not show evidence until illness sets in.

From stories of vampires to Batman, there is as much misinformation about bats as there is truth. Festa cites a reassuring statistic: fewer than one percent of bats carry rabies. In addition, New Jersey's bats are strictly insect eaters, eating hundreds of bugs in a day. And, as he notes on the Village website, putting to rest a long-held fear, bats almost never get tangled in people's hair.

Tomorrow: Bat-proofing season is almost here. We give you the basics of how and where to begin.