ONTARIO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BAT SAFETY TIPS

Published September 9, 2025

IF A BAT IS FOUND IN A ROOM WITH SOMEONE SLEEPING, A CHILD OR INTOXICATED/MENTALLY IMPAIRED PERSON, CALL PUBLIC HEALTH BEFORE RELEASING THE BAT.

IF WE CAN CATCH AND TEST THE BAT, YOU MAY NOT NEED TREATMENT. BUT IF THE BAT IS RELEASED, RABIES SHOTS MAY BE NECESSARY - EVEN WITHOUT A KNOWN BITE.

VACCINE FREQUENCY:

DAY 0: VACCINE + HRIG

DAY 3: VACCINE

DAY 7: VACCINE

DAY 14: VACCINE

HOW TO SAFELY CATCH A BAT

Most bats do not carry rabies, but nearly all human rabies deaths in the U.S. are linked to unrecognized or unreported bat exposures.

1 - Close all windows and doors - if the bat escapes, you need the rabies vaccines! If the lights are off, turn them on.

2 - Wear THICK gloves - bats have very tiny, very sharp teeth.

3 - Wait for the bat to land and cover with a container that has a lid.

4 - SECURE THE LID CAREFULLY to prevent escape! Don't worry about the air holes - bats can fit through holes 3/8" small!