Bats, Pets and Rabies: What Hamilton and Burlington Pet Owners Should Know

Finding a bat in your living space can be stressful, especially with the risk of rabies in the back of your mind. The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect your family, your pets and the wildlife in your community.

Why Do Bats Sometimes Enter Homes?

Bats are highly active throughout the warmer months as they feed on insects and travel between roosting and feeding areas. They may also use attic spaces as roosting sites, raising their young during the spring and summer.

During this time of year, attics can become extremely hot. Cool air flowing through wall cavities and chimney spaces can attract bats seeking relief from the heat, sometimes leading them into living areas of a home.

Finding a bat inside your home may indicate that bats are roosting elsewhere in the structure, such as an attic or wall cavity. While it can happen, it is less common for a bat to simply fly in through an open window or door.

What If Your Pet Finds or Catches a Bat?

Cats and dogs are naturally curious. A bat moving along the floor or flying through a room can quickly attract their attention.

If your pet catches, paws at, or gets a bat in its mouth, there are a few important steps to take:

• Contact your veterinarian promptly, even if your pet's rabies vaccination is up to date. Your veterinarian can determine what follow-up is needed based on your pet's vaccination history and the circumstances of the encounter.
• Keep people & pets away from the bat to prevent further potential exposure.
• Do not attempt to handle the bat yourself.

A bite or other contact does not necessarily mean the bat was carrying rabies, but appropriate precautions should always be taken. Prompt veterinary advice can help ensure your pet receives any necessary follow-up care.

Keep Your Pet's Rabies Vaccination Current

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In Ontario, dogs and cats over three months of age are generally required to have a current rabies vaccination. This includes pets that spend most or all of their time indoors.

Indoor pets can still encounter wildlife. If bats are roosting in another part of the home, they may occasionally venture into the living space, putting even an indoor cat or dog within reach.

Check your pet's vaccination records and speak with your veterinarian if you're unsure whether your pet's rabies vaccination is current. If your pet may have come into contact with a bat, tell your veterinarian about the encounter even if your pet is vaccinated so they can advise you on the appropriate next steps.

Don't Try to Handle the Bat Yourself

One of the most important things homeowners can do is resist the temptation to capture a bat themselves. A bat that appears weak, injured or unable to fly can still bite when frightened or handled. Because bats have very small, sharp teeth, bites can sometimes be difficult to see.

If you believe you were bitten or scratched, or had direct contact with bat saliva, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and contact a doctor or healthcare provider immediately. They can assess whether rabies post-exposure treatment is needed. Don't wait for symptoms to appear.

For Possible Rabies Exposures:

Hamilton Residents: Contact Hamilton Public Health at 905-546-2489. (This number is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week for possible rabies exposures.)

Burlington Residents: Contact Halton Region Public Health by calling 311.

Preventing Future Bat Encounters

Getting a bat out of your living space takes care of the immediate problem, but it's also important to address how it got inside in the first place.

Bats can squeeze through very small gaps, so identifying and sealing entry points can help prevent future encounters.

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control uses a humane exclusion process that allows bats to leave a home while preventing them from re-entering. Skedaddle technicians inspect properties to identify current and potential entry points, assess the size of any colony present and identify wildlife-related concerns within the home.

Timing is an important part of this process. During maternity season, young bats may still be unable to fly. Excluding adults too early can separate mothers from their pups and leave young bats trapped inside.

Once young bats are able to fly, August and early fall become important times to address a bat problem. At this stage, bats can leave the roost on their own, allowing humane exclusion to be completed without separating mothers from their young.

Bats Belong in Our Communities, Just Not in Our Homes

Although concerns about rabies are understandable, bats should not be viewed simply as pests. They are an important part of Southern Ontario's ecosystem.

Bats consume large numbers of insects, helping to keep insect populations in balance. The goal of humane bat management is not to eliminate bats from our neighbourhoods. It is to create safe separation between wildlife and the people and pets who share those neighbourhoods.

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If you're seeing bats around your home, hearing activity in the walls or attic, or have discovered a bat indoors, a professional inspection by a humane, prevention-focused company like Skedaddle can help determine how bats are getting inside and what can be done to prevent future encounters.

Keeping bats outside protects your home, your pets and the wildlife that plays an important role in our local environment.

This article was developed in collaboration with the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA's community partner, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, to help pet owners better understand bat encounters, rabies prevention and humane wildlife management.