How to Safely Catch a Bat

The New York State Health Department produced this video to urge New Yorkers to avoid the risk of rabies and rabies treatment by capturing and submitting for laboratory testing any bat found in their home that may have come in contact with humans or pets. For more information, visit nyhealth.gov.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• bat
• rabies
• public
• health

[xXMidnightdoveXx]

My kitten caught a bat that was unfortunate enough to land on our balcony...we're currently worried that the bat had rabies because if it did my kitten who I've had for less than a year will be put to sleep...

[NYSDOH]

Please contact your local health authority about what to do in this situation. Bat exposures are handled differently in different areas, and you need to find out what's appropriate for your area.

[NYSDOH]

Please contact your local health authority about what to do in this situation. Bat exposures are handled differently in different areas, and you need to find out what's appropriate for your area.

[NYSDOH]

@xXMidnightdoveXx

Please contact your local health authority about what to do in this situation.

Bat exposures are handled differently in different areas, and you need to find out

what's appropriate for your area.

[NYSDOH]

In New York State, your county health department handles these problems.

You can find the telephone number for your local health department in the phonebook or on-line.

Pets exposed to rabid or potentially rabid bats are not automatically euthanised;

your health department can guide you based on the circumstances of the incident.

[pinkmints]

thanx, but wat if we saw one last night, and spent 2 hours up because we were scared? now we cant find it.... we closed the door so it couldnt have gone out of our basement, and the place where it might have come in has too many currents from the air outside to fly against... HELP!

[NYSDOH]

Please contact your local health authority about what to do in this situation. Bat exposures are handled differently in different areas, and you need to find out what's appropriate for your area.

[dsmgirl]

Euthanasia is only recommended for unvaccinated pets.  This is a major reason to make sure your pets are current on their vaccines!

[SSArt98]

I'm in the same situation as pinkmits.Spent 45 minutes watching the bat fly in house,shut doors that I could.When it finally landed on a chain to my swag lamp I tried the method in the video but to no avail the bat sensed me coming close to it.After 3 hr's I lost sight of it in one room & can't find it now,I know it didn't pass me to get out the door I had opened,the sun was coming up & I knew it was getting tired as I was.I have a cpl pics of bat.3-4",black I'm in Indiana & they say 2" is big.

[e1011000]

i saw on in fairfield,texas at freds it was a baby

[Pimpmastahanhduece]

very true if u lose it inside the house, it could die and a pet may find and eat the remains, children could accidentely come in contact with the carcass, forget to wash and run their faces. but if thats not the case, i dont think a bat, especially one with rabies, is gonna sit that still. when i had a bat in my house, i used a beachbag and tied the holding straps to seal the bugger in but still allow it to breath in case for eventually when we released it. bats may bite even if not rabid