A rabid bat found in Fernwood reminds us we must learn to live wisely and according to the laws of nature if we choose to live in Topanga.
PHOTO BY SANDY SAVAS  Bat found by Topanga resident Sandy Savas and her son on a porch window screen. Animal Control officials captured the animal and sent it for rabies testing. A few days later Savas received a call from the LA County Veterinary Public Health Department saying that the bat tested positive. |
"We went to his room to get a closer look and were amazed to see a bat up close like that," Savas recalled. "I was considering capturing it and bringing it to the California Wildlife Center on Mulholland where I've taken a needy bird once before."
But a few moments later, a friend called and she told him about the bat.
"He told me to stay away from it and call the authorities immediately. I called the California Wildlife Center. They told me to stay away from it and call Animal Control immediately. Animal Control told me to stay away from it and they would send someone right out. The Animal Control deputy captured it and it was sent in for rabies testing."
A few days later Savas received a call from the LA County Veterinary Public Health Department saying that the bat was rabid. Needless to say, she was freaked out and proceeded to surf the Internet to learn everything she could about bats and rabies and provided the resources listed at the end of this article.
She learned that rat and bat droppings look the same [bat droppings are softer and show traces of insects]. "I've been battling what I thought was a rat problem in the rafters above my front porch under the wood ceiling. Every morning I would wake to droppings and urine on the ground outside my door. I had my son remove some of the ceiling boards and set rat traps, but I never saw any rat movement. It wasn't until I developed the photos of the bat and saw the droppings in the container that my bell went off: I didn't have rats living in my porch ceiling–I had bats! I've seen them fly at night around the porch but never dreamt they were residences of my home."
The rabid bat was captured on the window by the porch.
Diane Odegard of Bat Conservation International (BCI), said, "Of course, you want to take it seriously, but only a small percentage of bites are from rabid bats and that's usually because someone tries to pick them up. They almost always die when they contract the disease (a virus)."
Odegard also cautioned that if a bat is found in a room with an infant, young child, mentally disabled or intoxicated person, i.e., anyone who can't communicate, the department of health recommends the series or rabies shots for them if the bat isn't captured and tested. If it is and tests negative, there is no need for vaccination The modern rabies vaccine is safe and effective, less onerous than they used to be–four shots administered over a period of two weeks, usually given in the upper arm.
"I'm working on safely and humanely evicting them from my home," says Savas. This is done by "exclusion," essentially evicting them when they fly out and sealing entry points so they can't fly back in. Hiring a professional to conduct the exclusion is recommended.
But now is not the time of the year to do it. April through August is pupping season and babies would be left to die if the mother couldn't get back in. Times to do this are fall and early spring. The pups fly in August.
When evicting bats from a building, it's essential to provide them with a new place to live–a bat house. Contact Rosi Dagit, (310) 455-7528, for information, or for BCI-certified bat houses (pricey), go to their online catalog at www.batcatalog.com. There are other websites that sell them.
Excluding bats from buildings is the only effective and permanent solution when bats in a building are unwanted. It requires establishing one-way exits through which bats can leave but cannot return, while sealing all other potential entry points. It's best to contract with an excluder trained in bat removal (See Resources below).
Bats often roost in buildings during maternity periods, when they give birth and raise their pups.
Exclusions should not take place between April and August when young bats are not able to fly; otherwise, they will be trapped inside, away from their mothers, and die of starvation.
Bats may roost in attics, soffits, louvers, chimneys and porches, under siding, eaves, roof tiles or shingles, and behind shutters. They can enter a hole no bigger than your thumb.
Roosting bats in buildings are sometimes indicated by the presence of black or brown stains from body oils or droppings (guano) around cracks or crevices, on walls, under porches or decks, or beneath dilapidated ceilings.
If you are conducting exclusion yourself, never simply wait for bats to fly out at night and then seal openings. Not all of the bats leave at the same time and some may remain inside all night, especially during storms.
Using pesticides against bats is illegal and counterproductive, and greatly increases the likelihood of bats coming into contact with people and pets. Mothballs contain naphthalene and you need to use a large amount, which can be toxic to you, as well as the bats. Ultrasonic devices have proven ineffective.
Bats are essential to the health of our natural world. They help control pests and are vital pollinators and seed-dispersers for countless plants. Yet these wonderfully diverse and beneficial creatures are among the least studied and most misunderstood of animals. More than two-thirds of bat species are primarily predators of night-flying insects, including many of the most damaging agricultural pests. A single little brown bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in a single hour, while a pregnant or lactating female bat typically eats the equivalent of her entire body weight in insects each night. With proper education, the presence of bats does not pose public health conflicts.
Bats are rarely aggressive, even if they're being chased, but may bite in self-defense if handled. A solitary bat–often a lost youngster–will occasionally fly into a home, garage or other building through an open door or window. When this happens, the bat's primary goal is to escape safely back outside. These bats will usually leave on their own if a window or door to the outside is opened and interior doors are closed.
Less than one half of one percent of bats are known to be infected with rabies.
Rabies is a preventable viral infection of the central nervous system in mammals that is typically transmitted by the bite of an infected animal.
In rare instances, people can contract rabies if infectious material, such as saliva, from a rabid animal gets into their eyes, nose, mouth or a wound.
You cannot get rabies from just seeing a bat, from simply being in a room with a bat or from contact with bat guano (feces), urine or blood. The vast majority of bats do not have rabies.
Worldwide, more than 55,000 people are estimated to die of rabies each year (World Health Organization), primarily from contacts with rabid dogs.
In the United States from 1995 through 2009, an average of two people per year have died of rabies associated with bats.
Rabies is readily prevented by post-contact vaccination, but is almost always fatal after symptoms appear.
Prompt medical attention is essential following a bite by a bat or other animal. If the bat can be safely captured (as in a box or can), it should be sent to a laboratory for testing.
People usually know when they've been bitten, but bats have small teeth and bite marks may not be apparent.
If you find a bat in the room of an unattended child or near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, immediately seek medical advice.
Anyone who handles wild animals should obtain pre-exposure immunization, and anyone bitten or exposed to the saliva or nerve tissue of a rabies-suspect animal should immediately obtain post-exposure vaccination.
A bat that can be easily approached by humans is much more likely than other bats to be sick, and may bite if handled.
Teach children to never handle any wild animal.
"From this point on," said Savas, "I'm going to keep my distance and will also keep my pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccines." She shares tips she's learned about dealing with bats, rabid or not.
Get up to date with your pet vaccines
Stay away from ANY wild animal.
DON'T TOUCH! Unlike rabid raccoons, coyotes or foxes, rabid bats are not aggressive but may bite if you pick them up or get too close.
Always call the authorities if a bat is in the house.
Call 911 or your physician immediately if you think you've been bitten or if the bat's saliva may have come in contact with an open wound.
"I've always known how beneficial bats are and I've never been one to be afraid of bats. In fact, I feel lucky that they live close by."
Just not too close.
Animal Control, (818) 991-0071
California Wildlife Center, (310) 458-WILD (9453), californiawildlifecenter.org
LA County Public Health Veterinary, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet;
Bat Excluders: Abolish Pest Control, (877) 422-6547. Removal and cleanup.
Bat Conservation International, Austin, TX: www.batcon.org, (512) 327-9721.
Although it's not recommended to remove a bat yourself, if you need to, BCI has a 10-minute video on their home page (www.batcon.org) that shows how to capture a bat.
