Information Regarding Bat incidents

 

 

 

 

Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America.  Though our famous friends are part of what makes Austin bat-tastic.  Citizens should educate themselves on what to do should they ever come in contact with a bat.

What is "Possible Rabies Exposure?"  

The Center for Disease Control defines rabies exposure as occuring ONLY when a person is bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid MAMMAL, or when abrasions, open wounds, or mucous membranes are contaminated with the saliva, brain, or nervous system tissue of a potentially rabid animal. Contact with an animals urine or feces does not constitute exposure.

If A Person has touched a Bat

***Call Animal Protection immediately at 3-1-1****
NEVER RELOCATE A BAT
If possible, confine or try to keep track of the bat until Animal Protection arrives.  Make sure all doors, windows, etc are closed.  Remove children and pets from the area.   

• Animal Protection captures and tests all bats that have been in contact with humans for rabies. 
• Animal Protection will take a report of how and where the incident occurred as well as the name, address, and phone number of the person who came in contact with the bat
• Citizens who have been in contact with bats will need to contact a personal physician to determine if vaccinations are required
• NEVER RELOCATE A BAT

If your Pet Catches or Kills a Bat

• If possible confine the bat, keep the bat away from all pets and people
•  Call Animal Control at 3-1-1
• Animal Protection captures and tests all bats that have been in contact with pets for rabies. 
• Pets will require a rabies vaccination BOOSTER as soon as possible– even if the previous vaccination is not yet expired
• Confine pets, preventing contact with any persons or animals outside the family until test results are received

Dead Bats

• If the bat is in an area where it may have come in contact with a person or pet, call Animal Control at 3-1-1

A Bat in a Building

Austin/Travis County Animal Protection does not provide a bat removal service for buildings in which bat colonies are roosting. Animal Protection only responds in cases of possible rabies exposure.  In these cases, Animal Protection will respond and impound the bat for testing purposes. Here are some additional tips:

• many bats enter homes, apartments and businesses through unscreened windows and opened doors—particularly when the weather is nice in the fall and spring
• bats will generally leave a building on their own, given the chance
• if you find a bat in a room, do not try to catch it (unless testing is necessary because a person or pet has been sleeping in the room while the bat was present)
• check the area every few hours to see if the bat has departed—it may take up to 18 hours for a bat to leave a resting place
• if you MUST remove a resting bat from a room immediately (because there is no way to avoid contact with people or pets), put on thick leather gloves and carefully place a wide-mouthed cup, jar, or coffee can over the resting bat, slip a piece of cardboard between the opening and the resting surface
• NEVER HANDLE A BAT—ALIVE OR DEAD—WITH YOUR BARE HANDS

Sick or Injured bats may be released to rehabbers holding state permits with the exception of a bat that has been or may have been in contact with a person or pet. That bat  must be released only to Town Lake Animal Center or to an Animal Control Officer
Keep people and pets away from the bat and call Animal Control at 3-1-1.

Bat colonies in buildings

If bats are roosting in an attic or similar area, a one-way exit can be constructed which allows them to leave in search of food, but will prevent their re-entry.  Many pest control professionals can help you with this problem, and Bat Conservation International can provide you with information on how to evict bats yourself. 
Do not use one-way exits during June and July or flightless young may be trapped inside!
For more information, contact:

Austin/Travis Co. Animal Control	3-1-1
Bat Conservation International  www.batcon.org	327-9721
Town Lake Animal Center	3-1-1

 

Courtesy of Austin/Travis County Animal Services and Bat Conservation International

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/rabies/history/historyInTexas.pdf