Bat Watch Underway in Douglas County

            Bats are being found in large numbers in Douglas County and two rabid bats already have been found in Omaha, so the Douglas County Health Department and the Nebraska Humane Society are warning residents to protect themselves from rabies.

            The infected bats were found in homes in the Dundee area this month. Individuals exposed to the bat have been advised to receive post-exposure rabies treatment.  Because bats are among the animals that carry rabies – a fatal disease - the first step in is to educate people so you can avoid exposure, and make sure proper treatment follows if someone is bitten.

            “One of our biggest fears is that you can be bitten while you are sleeping and not know it,” Health Director Dr. Adi Pour said. “Bat bites don’t always leave an obvious mark, but you still may be infected.”

            Bats should never be allowed into your home. You may want to “bat-proof” your home by closing any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch. This can be done by caulking the opening, or by using window screens, chimney caps or stainless steel wool. It is especially important to cover outside entry points. Keep doors to the outside closed tightly, and if you have problems it is best to call an animal-control or wildlife conservation agency for help.

            As the weather cools, bats will try to move into homes, and during the past week the Nebraska Humane Society has fielded more than 100 calls about bats, according to Vice President of Field Operations Mark Langan.

            “If you find a bat in your home, call the Humane Society right away at 444-7800, Extension One. If you have been bitten or exposed to saliva, call your doctor,” Langan said. “We are concerned that some people may be exposed while they are asleep and not know about it.”

Facts about bats and rabies:

·         Avoid wild animals, especially bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons.  Avoid any animal – wild, farm, or pet – that you do not know.

·         Bats often enter buildings this time of the year to find warmth as the evenings cool. Be sure to take the right steps to keep them out of your living space.

·         Lab tests are needed to confirm if a bat has rabies, but if you are bitten by a bat or exposed to bat saliva, call your doctor immediately and wash the wound.  Then call the Humane Society or Health Department.

·         If you have to capture a bat by yourself, wear gloves and use a piece of cardboard to put the bat into a bag or coffee can, then call the Humane Society.

·         Do not release a captured bat or do unnecessary damage to a bat if you kill the animal, because the head is needed for rabies testing.

·         Remember, rabies is virtually always fatal without prompt treatment following exposure, however it is 100 percent preventable with proper medical care.

            If you have questions about bats, please call the Douglas County Health Department at 402-444-7489 or The Nebraska Humane Society at 402-444-7800, ext. 1. For more information on bats and how to protect yourself from their bites, just go to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web site at www.cdc.gov and enter bats in the search box.