Post by L Roebuck on Jul 29, 2006 9:05:02 GMT -5
Health Department Worried About Bats Entering Homes
By Teresa Jun, KOLD News 13
We often find bats in caves. But in the past few months, at least half a dozen have found their way into our homes.
"We had received our 6th call of people describing waking up in the morning and finding a bat in their home," said Dr. Michelle McDonald, with the Pima County Public Health Department.
It's something that causes concern for county health officials. "With the on-going rabies outbreak, if you will," Dr. McDonald said. "We're having more animals test positive in the last 2 years than we've had in quite a while."
In the last few years, the number of bats detected with rabies in Pima County has more than doubled. In 2005, about 48 cases were reported. It's not clear whether the home-invading bats were rabid. But because the disease has a very high death rate, residents received rabies shots, just in case.
This is the first time Pima County health officials have gotten as many as six bat calls in a few months. But animal experts think it's not because of any changes in the animals' behavior. Instead, they think people are merely reporting it more. Bat biologist Dr. Ronnie Sidner thinks, beyond the six reported cases, there are many more bats that routinely enter our homes every year.
"There are several species that actually live in crevices very reminiscent of crevices around people's homes," Dr. Sidner said. "So, this is a perfectly natural thing for them to do."
In the summer, bats can consider our homes as their caves -- cooler, wetter, and with good places to hide. And it doesn't take a huge hole for them to find their way in. Bats in this area can creep into a crevice with dimensions as small as 3/8 of an inch by one inch.
Experts suggest home-owners carefully inspect homes for cracks, window gaps, holes, and other openings that bats might come through. If you find a bat inside your home, you can contact the Pima County Health Department or Pima Animal Care Center.
Article and Video: www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=5191958&nav=14Rdbf35
By Teresa Jun, KOLD News 13
We often find bats in caves. But in the past few months, at least half a dozen have found their way into our homes.
"We had received our 6th call of people describing waking up in the morning and finding a bat in their home," said Dr. Michelle McDonald, with the Pima County Public Health Department.
It's something that causes concern for county health officials. "With the on-going rabies outbreak, if you will," Dr. McDonald said. "We're having more animals test positive in the last 2 years than we've had in quite a while."
In the last few years, the number of bats detected with rabies in Pima County has more than doubled. In 2005, about 48 cases were reported. It's not clear whether the home-invading bats were rabid. But because the disease has a very high death rate, residents received rabies shots, just in case.
This is the first time Pima County health officials have gotten as many as six bat calls in a few months. But animal experts think it's not because of any changes in the animals' behavior. Instead, they think people are merely reporting it more. Bat biologist Dr. Ronnie Sidner thinks, beyond the six reported cases, there are many more bats that routinely enter our homes every year.
"There are several species that actually live in crevices very reminiscent of crevices around people's homes," Dr. Sidner said. "So, this is a perfectly natural thing for them to do."
In the summer, bats can consider our homes as their caves -- cooler, wetter, and with good places to hide. And it doesn't take a huge hole for them to find their way in. Bats in this area can creep into a crevice with dimensions as small as 3/8 of an inch by one inch.
Experts suggest home-owners carefully inspect homes for cracks, window gaps, holes, and other openings that bats might come through. If you find a bat inside your home, you can contact the Pima County Health Department or Pima Animal Care Center.
Article and Video: www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=5191958&nav=14Rdbf35