It's that time of year again...young bats are looking for new homes. And they like to look indoors, which means they could try to make your home their home.
KMOX heard from Jordan Meyer, a bat expert with the Missouri Department of Conversation, about what draws bats into some people's houses.
"This is the end of the maternity season for bats. So pups that were born this year are now flying independent from mom," Meyer explained. "And now with that independence, just like with human teenagers, they begin to branch out on their own and finding new places to be, often places where experienced adult bats don't wander."
If a bat decides to seek refuge in your house, the best thing to do is not handle the bat directly, Meyer said.
"Just like with all mammals in the state of Missouri, there is a chance of rabies being present, or that bat being sick." he said. "So what I encourage folks to do, if there's a single bat that's gotten into your house and it's flying around your living space, to wear gloves, and to use a container to be able to contain the bat and release it outside if possible."
He said if you think you may have gotten scratched or bitten, to contact your local health department as well as medical professionals or a vet if a pet was involved.
Jordan said that bats are often in the homes of places that are exterior-acessible, which means attics, or other places that may have a small hole exposed.
Hear more about how to protect your home from bats this season:
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