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When people think about bats, they often imagine things that are not true. Bats are not blind. They are neither rodents nor birds. They will not suck your blood -- and most do not have rabies. Bats play key roles in ecosystems around the globe, from rain forests to deserts, especially by eating insects, including agricultural pests.
How can I tell if a bat has rabies?
Rabies can only be confirmed through laboratory testing. However, any bat that is active in the day, found in a place where bats are not usually seen (for example, in a room of your house or on your lawn), or is unable to fly, is far more likely to have rabies.
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What should I do if I come in contact with a bat?
If a bat bites you, or if infectious material (such as saliva) from a bat gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound – wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and get medical advice immediately. Whenever possible the bat should be captured and sent to a lab for rabies testing.
Bats have small teeth and bites may not be easily seen, therefore people do not always know if they have been bitten by a bat. If you awaken to find a bat in your room, see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, seek medical advice and have the bat tested.
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What should I do if my pet is exposed to a bat?
If you think your pet or domestic animal has been bitten by a bat, contact a veterinarian or your health department for assistance immediately and have the bat tested for rabies. Remember to keep vaccinations current for cats, dogs, and other animals. As a reminder, annually the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department teams up with the Memphis Animal Shelter and the Shelby County Veterinary Medical Association to conduct Rabies Clinics on the third and fourth Saturdays in April for cats and dogs to be vaccinated.
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What can I do if I have bats in my house?
If a bat is present in your home and you cannot rule out the possibility of exposure, leave the bat alone and contact the animal control officer at the police department for assistance. If professional help is not available, use these steps to protect yourself:
- Close the windows, closet doors, and door to the room.
- Turn on the lights if the room is dark and wait for the bat to land.
- Wear thick gloves and cover the bat with a small clear or transparent container.
- Slide a piece of cardboard or the lid under the clear or transparent container, trapping the bat.
- Tape the cardboard or lid tightly to the can and punch holes in the top allowing the bat to breathe.
Immediately contact the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department’s Vector Control Office (901) 324-5547 to have the bat tested for rabies and the Epidemiology Section of the Health Department at 901-544-7717 for post-exposure treatment advice.
After 4:30 p.m., and on weekends, or holidays contact the Shelby County Sheriff Dept. at (901) 495-1120.
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How can I "bat-proof" my house?
Some bats live in buildings and there may be no reason to get rid of them if there is little chance for contact with people. However, bats should always be prevented from entering rooms of your home. For assistance regarding what you need to do in "bat-proofing" your home, contact an animal control or wildlife conservation agency.
If you choose to "bat-proof" your home yourself, follow these suggestions:
 Carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bats entry to the home.
Any openings larger than ¼ inch by ½ inch should be caulked.
Use window screens, chimney caps, and draft guards beneath doors to attics.
Fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking.
Ensure that all doors to the outside close tightly.
Observe where the bats exit at dusk and exclude them by loosely hanging clear plastic sheeting or bird netting over these areas (bats can leave, but can not reenter).
After bats have been excluded, the openings can be permanently sealed.
Avoid exclusion from May through August because many young bats are unable to fly and may die trapped inside or make their way into living quarters.
Most bats leave to hibernate in fall or winter, so this is the best time to "bat-proof."
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How can I safely capture a bat in my home?
If a bat is present in your home, leave the bat alone and contact an animal-control or Health Department Vector Control Office for assistance. See Listing for Animal Control Agencies in Memphis and Shelby County.
If professional help is unavailable, use precautions to capture the bat safely, as described below.
What you will need:
- Leather work gloves
- Small clear or transparent container with a cover or lid
- Tape
When the bat lands, approach it slowly, while wearing the gloves, and place the small container over it. Slide the lid under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape the container securely with the lid, and punch small holes in the cover or lid, allowing the bat to breathe. Contact the Vector Control Office of the Health Department (901-324-5547) or animal-control authority to make arrangements for rabies testing.
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Resources:
Animal Control Agencies in Memphis and Shelby County
| Memphis Animal Shelter |
901-363-1416 or
901- 362-5310 |
| Bartlett Public Works |
901-385-6484 |
| Collierville Public Works |
901-457-2670 |
| Germantown Public Works |
901-757-7358 |
| Shelby County Rabies Control |
901-324-5547 |
After 4:30 p.m., and on weekends,contact the Shelby County Sheriff Dept. at (901) 545-5500 or (901) 867-1400.
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For questions on:
Rabies Vaccine in the Memphis Area - Contact the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department's Immunization Clinic at (901) 7711 during normal business hours. If out-side Shelby County contact your local health department or private care provider.
Please call the Tennessee Department of Health at 1-615-741-7247 or USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services at 1-615-736-2247 if you are exposed to the vaccine or need advice.
Bats around your home - If in Memphis and Shelby County -Contact the Vector Control Office of the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department at (901) 324-5547 during normal business hours. If out-side Shelby County contact your local health department or animal control agency.
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Links:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
Kids Health
Tennessee Department of Health
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Other Web Resources:
Bat Conservation International: Bat Conservation International (BCI) is devoted to conservation, education, and research initiatives involving bats and the ecosystems they serve.
Organization for Bat Conservation: The Organization for Bat Conservation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of bats and their habitats.
US Fish and Wildlife Service: Common Misconceptions about Bats.
Audubon International: Bats Fact Sheet: (pdf document)
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