Reports of Rabies Found In Bats On The Rise In Northern Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sept. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- The Northern Kentucky Health Department recently reported a rise in the number of people exposed to bats in their homes. The health department is concerned due to the potential transmission of the rabies virus from bats to humans through a bat bite. According to the Northern Kentucky Health Department, 5 to 10 percent of bats tested in Kentucky for rabies test positive. In addition, bat bites can go undetected by individuals, especially those sleeping or young children, because they have small teeth that oftentimes do not leave a mark.  Tri-State Wildlife Management’s owner – Vikki Rawe advises customers to contact the health department if they suspect that a bat has had the opportunity to bite someone.

Over the past few years Tri-State Wildlife Management has experienced a significant rise in calls concerning bats entering or seen leaving homes, businesses, schools, and churches. Customers often begin reporting signs of bats in the spring when they establish/return to material roosts in people’s attics. Throughout the summer there is an increase in customers calling because a bat or bats have entered the living space of a home due to an open window, door, chimney flue, or even a common construction gap.  Residences are most vulnerable to bat entry from mid-August to October when juvenile bats are doing what teenagers do best, getting into trouble.

Having a bat or bats in your home or business is a very unsettling and serious problem, even if they are confined to the attic. While bats are very beneficial to humans because of their affinity for many flying insects such as mosquitoes, if they find their way into your home and take up residence, they can also be some of the most destructive and dangerous wildlife to control. Tri-State Wildlife Management proudly offers bat removal in Northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati Tri-State area. In addition to bat removal we offer full service exclusions, repairs and restorations, as well as attic clean outs after bat removal. Since bats are a protected species, removal should be done by trained professionals, such as TSWM. Tri-State Wildlife Management is Certified Bat Standard Compliant by the National Wildlife Control Operators Association.

In addition to the recent rise in the number of reported rabid bats, bats are notorious for urinating and defecating anywhere they roost. Such unsanitary conditions result in staining and odor problems which are difficult to remove. Bat droppings are also associated with other dangerous diseases such as histoplasmosis (a lung disease caused by the spores of fungus which grow on their droppings or guano). Dry attic environments usually do not support the growth of histoplasmosis spores, however attic cleanouts should never be conducted by a home or business owner. Due to the risk of exposure, guano removal should be left to trained professionals with the proper safety and removal equipment. For more information concerning bat exposure, visit the Center for Disease Control Website at www.cdc.gov or the Northern Kentucky Health Department website at www.nkyhealth.org.

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