After receiving numerous calls from people finding bats in their homes, the Cayuga County Health Department is reminding residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from potential rabies exposure.
According to the department, with summer weather causing attics and crawlspaces to heat up, bats seek cooler locations in the lower levels of homes, resulting in more contact with humans than at any other time of the year. It added that the majority of those who die from rabies in the US contract it from bats.
The department adds that, if you find a bat in your home, it should be captured and submitted for rabies testing under the following circumstances:
- A person had direct physical contact with a bat.
- A bat is found in a room with people who are sleeping.
- A bat is found in a room with an unattended child or impaired adult.
- A bat is in contact with a domestic pet (dog or cat).
Once the bat is captured, the health department advises you to store it in a cool place or freeze it and call the health department at 315-253-1560. The bat will be sent out for rabies testing.
To help batproof your home, the department recommends looking for holes in garages, attics, basements, etc, and plugging them. Holes in window screens should also be repaired.
Additionally, pets should have their rabies vaccinations kept up to date.
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