You wouldn't believe what spent the night in our brooder last night

[Cass]

Quote:
x2
Please wear gloves when cleaning the brooder and throw them out when you are done. I mean Rubber/latex gloves. Rabies is transmitted in the siliva of the infected animal. Don't touch the spit, you won't get it. Bleach kills rabies. 10% solution left to sit for 10 minutes. Wipe dry with paper towels and throw them out too.

Infected animals can act quite normal until the end stages of the disease. Not exactly sure when they are contagious, but please don't take any chances.

 

[trying chickens]

Less than 1% of bats have rabies...

 

[drumstick diva]

Okay but why was he crawling around on the ground and not hanging upside down from the ceiling like a normal bat? Why would he let people approach him?

I rest my case.

 

[zazouse]

Good for you,i love bats and we have lots of them here.
I don't worry about rabies ,if there saliva carries it i am doomed anyway as i leave 2 lights on in my chicken areas and the bats can bee seen every night catcen bugs that fly around them, plus i have had my hair lifted by bats more than once by a bat flyby.

 

[Watermelon_Gypsy]

I think it's wonderful that you help the little critter out - clean the area with bleach as a previous poster mentioned just to be safe. I would of done the same thing as you.

 

[slackwater]

Quote:
Maybe he ran into a window and was stunned. Or was hit by an owl or other bird of prey - same result. I'm not saying that he was all well and healthy, but there are other potential reasons for finding a wild animal out of its natural element besides rabies.

 

[aggie9296]

x2.

You have to get the saliva in to an open wound, from an animal that is carrying rabies. Normally from a bite. And very few even carry rabies.

 

[trying chickens]

Drumstick, as I understand it bats can't fly from "off the ground" they must drop off something and then they can fly. Some time bats get off course and fly into some place they shouldn't and then can't get out. If it was ill I don't think it would have "flown away " like it did after getting rested and warm. just my 2cents

 

[dkvart1]

Quote:
Maybe he ran into a window and was stunned. Or was hit by an owl or other bird of prey - same result. I'm not saying that he was all well and healthy, but there are other potential reasons for finding a wild animal out of its natural element besides rabies.

I agree. Also bats, if they are in a familiar area don't always use their echo location, perhaps he met an unexpected obstacle which caused him to take a tumble, it happens. And as another said, had he been ill with something like rabies I doubt he would have recovered to be so active and rejoin the others.

I'm glad you assisted the little guy. They are great, although often misunderstood and feared.

 

[CariLynn]

Quote:
Not looking to see where the OP was, Drumstick Diva, your wrong. If you would do your home work or actually talk to a bat rehab facility, many bats are suffering from a disease that saps their immune system due to pesticides, while others are just old and tired, if there was a storm, some get thrown off course when they get caught in the rain, I have known others that actually have run into things that were not there before. There are many things other than "rabies", so please, educate yourself before running around like Henny Penny. Bats are already misunderstood, it does them no good for others to spread false rumors and 2nd hand misinformation.