Contrary to popular belief, bats are actually not as dangerous as many assume. In fact, they are not aggressive creatures by nature and are actually more on the shy side. These winged creatures spend most of their days roosting and might also occasionally be found in attics or the walls of occupied homes. Most homeowners will find them to be a nuisance due to their vocalization and activity. Odors and stains from urine, feces, and rejected food may also become an issue.
While bats are not out to purposely harm you or your pets, it is still important to be cautious if a bat comes near you or is residing in your walls. One possible danger to humans and pets is if a bat has rabies, however this is not as common as many think. Only a small portion of bats (less than 1%) are infected with rabies, and most bats will die shortly after contracting the virus. Even if rabies is confirmed in one or two bats in a colony, most of the remaining bats will be just fine and remain healthy. Symptoms of rabies include erratic flight, weakness or paralysis and activity during the daytime.
Most individuals who end up getting rabies from a bat resulted in them trying to help a grounded bat that is rabid and has fallen from its roost. If sick or dead bats are found, you should not touch them, instead contact your local health agency. In addition to rabies, one other possible danger to humans and pets is a bat’s feces, which is often referred to as guano. Guano is vey hazardous since it contains bacteria. It also produces an abundance of ammonia gas which is poisonous. If your dog consumes guano he could become very ill and possibly even die.
Abby Millea-Funkhouser says
Yes, FINALLY! Thank you for sharing and answering a most important question. I am an avid gardener and was considering adding bat housing. I am also an animal lover and have two Scottish Terrier’s. I would be devastated if they were to become ill from introducing bats in our area. Thank you, again.