Officials have seen uptick in bat exposures; what you should do if a bat gets into your house

There has been an increase in bat exposures and officials want to warn the public on what you should do if you encounter a bat.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, this month alone, nearly 200 people in RI needed to get vaccinated against rabies after bat exposures.

Here’s what to do if a bat gets into your house:

-People who have contact with a bat should call a professional or try to safely capture the bat.

-Do not release or discard the bat without first calling the Department of Health to assess the situation and determine if it is necessary to bring it in for testing.

-Since rabies is 100% fatal, if the bat cannot be tested, we must assume it is positive for rabies. You will then need to be treated, which involves a series of vaccinations, which may be expensive.

-Bats have small teeth and bites may not be easily seen, therefore people do not always know if they have been bitten by a bat. If you wake up to find a bat in your room, see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, seek medical advice and have the bat tested.

-If you think your pet or other domestic animal has been exposed to a bat, contact a veterinarian or the health department and have the bat tested for rabies. Remember to keep vaccinations current for cats, dogs, and other pets.

If you cannot reach a licensed professional to catch a bat RIDOH recommends:

-Put on leather gloves and slowly approach the bat when it lands.
-Place a clear, see-through container over the bat.
-Slide a lid under the container to trap the bat inside.
-Securely tape the lid to the container and punch small holes in the lid so the bat can breathe.
-Arrange for rabies testing.

Prevent Bats from Entering Your House
-Carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bats entry to the home;
-Caulk any openings larger than ¼ inch by ½ inch;
-Use window screens, chimney caps, and draft guards beneath doors to attics;
-Fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking;
-Ensure that all doors to the outside close tightly;
-Observe where the bats exit at dusk and exclude them by loosely hanging clear plastic sheeting or bird netting over these areas (bats can leave, but can not reenter);
-After bats have been excluded, the openings can be permanently sealed;
-Avoid exclusion from May through August because many young bats are unable to fly and may die trapped inside or make their way into living quarters;
-Most bats leave to hibernate in fall or winter, so this is the best time to “bat-proof.”
-Hire a licensed professional to secure your home from bats as described above.