Living with Wildlife
Living with Bats
There are 18 species of bats known to live in Colorado; some are here year-round, and some only migrate through the state. Though commonly misunderstood, bats actually play a valuable role in ecosystems across Colorado.
Bats can be found in every habitat in the state, from the eastern plains to the high mountain forests and western deserts, from rural towns to downtown Denver. Not only do they pollinate plants and crops, but all of our bats also eat insects and help control our insect populations. The Little brown bat has been known to catch and eat more than 150 mosquitoes and crop pests in less than 15 minutes!
Colorado Parks and Wildlife continually monitors bat populations as part of a nationwide effort to detect changes from challenges including white-nose syndrome, climate change, energy and land use development.
Bat Behaviors and Rabies Prevention
Normal Bat Behaviors
Bats roost in trees, mines, caves, sheds, attics, under rocks, roofs and siding. If you see one in an unusual place, such as on the side of a building or on the ground, beware. Bats can squeeze through cracks as narrow as an inch wide. Some of their preferred entrances are in older frame structures where boards are loose or have shrunk. They may also enter houses through loose vents, eaves, spaces around water pipes, electrical outlets, corrugated roofing, doors or windows.
Signs of a Rabid Bat
According to Bat Conservation International, "Like many wild animals, bats can carry rabies. The vast majority of bats are healthy, do not have rabies, and pose no risk to people." Studies have suggested that less than 1 percent of all bats may be infected. Due to successful dog and cat vaccination programs, rabies is now the second rarest disease in the United States and Canada, behind polio.
- Although daytime activity can be a sign of rabies, not all bats roosting visibly have rabies.
- If a bat is acting abnormally, chances are it is sick.
- Bats have remarkably accurate control of their flight, so beware of bats that can't fly or repeatedly crash into things.
Crossing Paths with a Sick or Injured Bat
The most common ways people have been exposed to rabid bats are by picking one off the ground, trying to remove a bat from the house, taking a bat from a family pet and having a bat land on them. People also have awakened to find a bat in their bedroom or elsewhere in their house. When that happens, it can be difficult to determine if an exposure has occurred.
- Avoid handling bats at all. If you need to move the animal, never handle a bat with your bare hands!
- If your pet catches a bat, or you find one in your house, make a reasonable attempt to capture the animal, but take precautions so you're not bitten or scratched. Avoid injuring the bat.
- Wear heavy gloves or use tongs or a shovel to pick up the bat. Confine it in a container, such as a coffee can. Slide cardboard under the can and tape it closed.
What to do if You or Your Pet is Bitten or Scratched?
Bat teeth are small and very sharp, so the wound may be no more than a pin-like puncture, or it may not be visible at all. If the bat is not captured, or it tests positive for rabies, you will need preventative treatment immediately.
- If you were bitten, clean the area with soap and water and apply alcohol or iodine. Immediately visit your family physician or a public health professional for evaluation as a possible rabies exposure.
- If your pet was bitten by a bat, had a bat in its mouth or was near a grounded bat, contact your veterinarian.
Tips for Living with Bats
Prevent Bats from Entering Your Home
The best way to keep bats from entering your home is to repair cracks. Caulking cracks is most effective during dry weather when cracks are the largest. Weather-stripping, which seals spaces around doors and windows, is also effective.
If you're certain the noises in your attic are being made by bats, wait for them to leave, then seal the entrances before they return. Unfortunately, you'll need to do the work at night when bats depart for feeding, in the fall after the young have learned to fly or wait until winter when many bats have migrated south.
If you need information on excluding bats from your home, or removing a colony, call your Parks and Wildlife office.
John Pape, Colorado State Health Department Epidemiologist, who specializes in animal-related diseases, explains that bats are an important part of the ecosystem because they eat mosquitoes and other insects and pollinate plants. "Bats should not be killed indiscriminately or because of a fear of rabies," Pape said. During migration time, finding a bat hanging under the eave of a house, under a porch over-hang, hidden behind shutters or gutters or in a tree is normal. Just leave bats alone and usually they will leave on their own.
Exposure to Rabies and Other Diseases
Studies suggest less than 1 percent of all bats may be infected by rabies, but if you think you may have been bitten by a bat or can't eliminate the possibility, seek medical attention immediately. Contact the local health department to arrange for the bat to be tested. Rabies shots aren't nearly as traumatic as in the past. Early rabies symptoms in humans include pain, burning, and numbness at the site of infection. Victims complain of headaches, inability to sleep, irritability, muscle spasms of the throat and difficulty swallowing. Convulsions may occur, followed by unconsciousness and death.
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease of hibernating North American bat species. To date, WNS has likely killed between 5.7 and 6.7 million hibernating bats in caves and inactive mines in the eastern USA, and has contributed to the imperilment of some bat populations and species. The fungus has the potential to kill individuals of many of the 18 bat species native to Colorado.
WNS has not been shown to infect other wildlife, domestic animal species, or humans. Cavers, please ensure ALL gear and clothing are cleaned and disinfected to prevent the risk of spreading the fungus. For more information, see the white-nose syndrome.org website.
Protecting Pets from Bats
Keeping domestic dogs and cats vaccinated protects them from exposures to rabies, including exposures you may not be aware of, such as a cat catching and eating a bat. If exposed to rabies, an unvaccinated pet must be quarantined, which can be expensive.
Pets that are allowed to run loose are more likely to come in contact with infected animals or disease carrying pests and bring them into homes.
Pets should not eat or play with dead or decaying bird or animal bodies.