Community Corner

Bat Calls More Frequent During Summer

The DuPage County Health Department offers safety tips related to bats.

Bat season is in full swing, but it isn’t baseball bats that are the issue, more like the black flying kind that come out at night. 

In response to an increase in phone calls from the public, the The DuPage County Health Department issued a news release Monday to provide information about living safely with bats.

Bats are more active this time of year, which has led to more calls, said David Haas, of the DuPage County Health Department. In some cases bats have transmitted rabies to humans, but no recent incidents have occurred. Though, Haas did say that in 2012 there were three bats that tested positive for rabies in the county.

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In Illinois, bats are the primary carriers of rabies, according to the health department. 

Though they may appear scary, bats are vital resources for eating night-flying insects. They also pollinate hundreds of varieties of plants, according to Bat Conservation International

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While people can contract rabies from bats, the number of incidents that occur nationwide is less than the number of human deaths from dog bites, according to the conservation group. Roughly two people a year die from contracting rabies from bats, compared with 16 deaths a year as a result of dog bites. 

Even so, residents who encounter a bat inside a home or who come into contact with bats should take precautions.

The DuPage County Health Department offers these tips:

  • Call your local police department or your local animal control agency to remove the bat. Remember that all animal bites to humans, including bats, must be reported to DuPage County Animal Care and Control at 630-407-2800.
  • Also, call the DuPage County Health Department at 630-221-7553 after finding a bat in your home or you feel you possibly had contact with a bat. It is important to promptly review the situation to determine if bat testing and rabies preventive treatment are indicated.
  • If your home has bats, please visit this website about preventing and removing bats. A list of wildlife control specialists, who may be familiar with bat removal procedures, can be obtained by calling the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at 217-782-6384.

Just looking at an animal may not provide clues as to whether it has rabies and an animal with rabies may not appear aggressive, according to the health department. But, a bat found out during the day or found on the ground unable to fly may be more likely to have rabies.

The health department offers these additional tips to prevent the spread of rabies, which without treatment may be deadly. 

  • Be a responsible pet owner.  Keep vaccinations up-to-date for all pets.
  • Seek immediate veterinary assistance if your pet is bitten by a wild animal or exposed to a bat. 
  • Do not handle, feed or attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
  • Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.  Do not try to nurse sick animals to health.  Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
  • Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.  “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn to reduce the risk of exposures to rabid animals.
  • Maintain homes and other buildings so bats cannot gain entry.
  • If a bat is in your home, do not release the bat outdoors until after speaking with animal control or public health officials.  If you are able to do so without putting yourself at risk for physical contact or being bitten, try to cover the bat with a large can or bucket, and close the door to the room.

Source: DuPage County Health Department

Have you ever seen bats flying in Glen Ellyn? Tell us in comments.

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