Please, for all the bats’ sakes, before you think of touching an injured bat or a bat in or around your house, get and wear GLOVES.
Rabies is DEADLY so if there is ANY CHANCE you were scratched or bitten, call Public Health Officers, Jennifer and Denise for the North Island @
Office Hours (M-F 8:30-5) Toll Free 1-877-887-8835 or 250-331-8555
After Office Hours 1-800-204-6166
The treatment isn’t traumatic like the old days, just an injection of immunoglobulin, a vaccination & then re-vaccination at 3,7 & 14 days.
Recently some lovely caring Denmanites rescued a bat – they are now getting the rabies vaccinations. The bat died and will be sent for rabies testing.
A very tiny percentage of bats have rabies, but ANY wild mammal that has possibly spent time on mainland North America could have rabies. Bats found in the day are not behaving normally. They may just have got trapped inside a house or be sleeping in what they thought was a good crevice BUT it is wise to Think Rabies First and be prepared if you consider handling wildlife.
