The air is getting cooler, fall is settling in and that means bats are looking for a new place to live.
While bats typically roost in trees, caves or other natural spaces, they are also attracted to human-made structures, including your cozy home. And right now is the most active time of year for bats to be seeking shelter.
Since bats hibernate through the winter months, they typically spend September and October fattening up and preparing for the season ahead -- which could send them into your home in search of food and shelter, or the perfect place to spend the winter. And we're not just talking about one perched on a curtain rod out in the open. Bats prefer to take up in the space inside your walls.
Although this happens every year, it can come as quite a shock to those who wake up to a bat flying in their bedroom or suddenly uncover a dozen bats roosting in their home.
A major issue, besides any damage to your home, is that bats can potentially carry rabies, which is 100% fatal if pets are not protected.
"If an animal is exposed, we need to get that animal boostered, the rabies vaccination booster," Tony Schendel, with the Minneapolis Animal Care and Control, told WCCO. "Even if it's current within 72 hours, post exposure to help boost the immunity of that animal so that it doesn't impact things negatively."
If a bat gets in your home, don't panic. Here's what you should do, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
• Isolate the animal in one room of the house by closing the doors to adjoining areas. As long as the bat has not bitten or scratched anyone, open any windows or doors that lead to the outside. Remain in the room so that you don't lose track of the bat, stand or sit quietly, and allow the bat a clear flight path to exit by following the air currents to the outside. Turn down any lights in the room so that the bat doesn't hide behind the curtains or furniture to avoid the light.
• If the bat doesn't leave on its own, you can try to capture it. Wait until the bat lands, then place a net, coffee can or other container over the bat. Slide a piece of stiff cardboard or other material under the container, then take the container outside and release the bat. Only do this if you are wearing leather gloves to protect yourself.
• If the bat appears sick or does not fly well, use caution when capturing it. Use the methods described above or pick it up with a shovel or tongs and place it in a box or bag. Do not release a bat that appears to be sick or injured. Call your county health authorities for instructions on how to submit the bat for testing.
If you're concerned that you have been in direct contact with a bat or suspect a potential rabies exposure, call the Rabies Hotline at 1-800-4RABIES or contact a health care provider.
Many bat species are federally protected in the United States, which makes it a crime to mishandle or kill one. In addition to federal protection, most states also have laws that prohibit killing, harming or moving bats. Check with your local wildlife agency about restrictions on timing or method of removal.