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| Bats |
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, and by seed dispersal and pollination
activities. The best protection we can offer these unique mammals is to learn more
about their habits and recognize the value of living safely with them.
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| Bat-Proofing your home |
| How
can I keep bats out of my home? |
Some bats live in buildings and there
may be no reason to evict them if there is little chance for contact
with people. However, bats should always be prevented from entering
rooms of your home. For assistance with bat-proofing
your home, contact a pest control company or a wildlife conservation
agency. If you choose to do the bat-proofing yourself
here are some suggestions. Carefully examine your home for holes that
might allow bats entry into your living quarters. Any openings larger
than a quarter-inch by a half-inch should be caulked. Use window screens,
chimney caps and draft-guards beneath doors to attics, fill electrical
and plumbing holes with steel wool or caulking and ensure that all
doors to the outside close tightly.
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Additional bat-proofing
can prevent bats from roosting in attics or buildings by covering
outside entry points. Observe where the bats exit at dusk
and exclude them by loosely hanging clear plastic sheeting or bird
netting over these areas. Bats can crawl out and leave, but
cannot re-enter. After the bats have excluded, the openings
can be permanently sealed. For more information about bat-proofing
your home contact Bat Conservation International.
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| If you find
a bat in your home and you are not sure no human or pet exposure has
occurred, confine the bat to a room by closing all doors and windows
leading out of the room and contact the Pima Animal Care Center immediately
at 243-5900. |
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| Things to remember when
"bat-proofing" |
| During the summer many
young bats are unable to fly. If you exclude adult bats during this time, the young
may be trapped inside. Thus, if possible, avoid exclusion from May through August. |
| Most bats leave in
the fall or winter to hibernate, so these are the best times to "bat-proof" your
home. |
| What should I do if I come
in contact with a bat? |
| If you are bitten by a bat, or 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 seek medical advice immediately. Whenever possible, the bat
should be captured and sent to the laboratory for rabies testing (please do not try
to capture the bat yourself) contact the Pima Animal Care Center immediately at
243-5900. |
| 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 and the Pima Animal Care Center for assistance
immediately. Remember to keep your pets' rabies vaccinations current. |
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