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While it is true that bats "contract" rabies rather
than "carry" it (just like dogs, cats, skunks, foxes, and other mammals), a bite
from a rabid bat can pass on rabies, nonetheless. You're right that bats
often get a bad rap, but it is still wise not to handle them, just as it is wise
not to handle stray dogs or cats with unknown vaccination histories. A
little common sense is in order--especially do not handle animals (including
bats) that are acting strangely. Bats flying around at night "doing their
thing" catching bugs, etc. are likely not to be a threat, whereas bats out in
the daytime may well be ill.
Heidi
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2002 8:21 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] Rabid Bats
Hey all, please
forgive me if I get on a soap box for a minute, especially concerning a
non-horse related topic. . .
I really hate to see
negative publicity about bats -- one of the world's most beneficial and most
misunderstood/feared animals.
As someone on here
mentioned, bats get a bad rap because they seem to die and be found more
than other animals. The reason that bats get such a bad rap is because
when a bat is sick, it falls to the ground. When a bat falls to the
ground, some idiotic person (usually well-meaning) messes with it and ends
up getting bitten.
Bats DO NOT CARRY
rabies. . . they CONTRACT it, just like humans. They get sick, they
die, and if left alone, it ends there.
So please, please,
please continue supporting and preserving bat populations, and consider
yourself fortunate to have them around.
For more information
about bats and rabies you can check out basicallybats.com.
Beth
Bennett
Endurance
Rider/Caver/Retired Bat Mom
The basicallybats link doesn't seem to work, but there's lots of good
information at:
http://www.batconservation.org/content/batsandhumans/batsandhumans.htm
Where bats are, mosquitos aren't (I spent a week camping next to our
swampy local river this spring and didn't even hear a buzz -- but saw lots of
bats flying at dusk) -- and with West Nile Virus on the move, anything that
will take out mosquitos without me or my horses needing to get doused with
pesticides or repellants is A Good Thing.
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