Up to Date Facts About Bats and Rabies

Bats are the only mammal capable of true flight and have been present on Earth for over 50 million years. There are over 1,200 species of bats worldwide, making them one of the most diverse groups of mammals. While most people think of bats as being associated with dark places and spooky caves, they play an important role in many ecosystems.

Bats are important pollinators and help to disperse seeds, which helps to ensure the health of forests and other habitats. They are also a major food source for many predators, including owls, snakes, and some species of cats. In some cultures, bats are considered to be good luck symbols, while in others they are feared as omens of death.

Despite their beneficial role in nature, bats can also be carriers of disease. They are the natural reservoirs for a number of viruses, including rabies. While the risk of contracting rabies from a bat is low, it is still important to be aware of the potential dangers they pose.

In this blog, we will discuss more facts about the link between bats and the Rabies Virus, plus provide a bonus tip on how to safely get rid of bats if you are dealing with a nuisance critter problem in Indianapolis.

Get Rid of Bats Indianapolis Indiana 317-535-4605
Get Rid of Bats Indianapolis Indiana 317-535-4605

What You Need to Know About Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system. It is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected animal but can also be transmitted through contact with saliva or other body fluids. The rabies virus attacks the brain, causing inflammation and ultimately death. Symptoms of rabies include fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, paralysis, and seizures. The disease is almost always fatal once symptoms begin to appear but can be prevented through prompt treatment with a rabies vaccine.

Bats are the most common source of rabies infections in humans, accounting for over 60% of reported cases. While the risk of contracting rabies from a bat is low, it is still important to take precautions when around them. If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, it is important to seek medical attention immediately and to begin the rabies vaccination process. Be sure to keep your pets vaccinated against Rabies as well.

Bat Removal and Control

Bats are often considered nuisance pests due to their habit of roosting in homes and other structures. Bats can enter through very small openings, making them difficult to keep out. In addition, their droppings can contain harmful bacteria that can contaminate food and surfaces. If you have a bat problem, it’s important to take steps to remove and control them.

There are a few different ways to remove bats from your home or other structure. You can have a bat exclusion device installed, which allows the bats to exit but not re-enter. You can also have any openings sealed up that the bats are using to get into your home. Once the bats are gone, any areas where they were roosting needs to be cleaned and sanitized to prevent the spread of disease.

If you have a bat problem, only trust a licensed and insured bat pest control professional for help extracting and managing them. Contact us at 317-257-2290 for professional and prompt Indianapolis IN bat removal services you can trust. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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Facts About Rabies in Bats

Bats, like most mammalian wildlife, are capable are carrying and transmitting several contagious diseases. One of the most notorious illness associated with bats in particular is the Rabies virus. If you recently discovered bats in or around your property, you are likely filled with all sorts of concerns, and your safety is at the top of the list. To put your mind at ease, it is wise to begin educating yourself on the link between bats and rabies.

Continue reading to review some frequently asked questions that can help get you started on the right path.

Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control 317-535-4605
Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control 317-535-4605

Bat Populations Infected With Rabies Virus

No; not all bats have rabies. Although bats are known carriers, it does not mean that every bat you encounter is infected. Furthermore, just because a bat is a carrier does not mean they are actively infected. Read our blog, “Top 4 Signs of a Rabid Bat” to learn what an active infection may appear like. Of course, it is important to steer clear of all bats, just in case.

How Bats Transmit Rabies

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The rabies virus is transmitted through saliva or brain/nervous system tissue. You can only get rabies by coming in contact with these specific bodily excretions and tissues.”

Rabies Protection and Preventative Maintenance

For humans, the Rabies virus is 100% preventable with the right vaccinations. Because adults in good health are rarely exposed, shots are not necessary unless someone is bitten or exposed. The best course of action adults can take is to adhere to adequate animal vaccination and control standards.

Rabies Vaccinations

Rabies vaccinations are intravenously-administered treatments to produce an immunity against the virus in the case that exposure was to ever occur. The Rabies vaccine consists of 3 types of cells, which are human cells, chick embryo cells, and fetal rhesus lung cells. Those being vaccinated will receive a 3 part dose of Rabies immune globulin, starting with an initial vaccine beforehand, a second dose 7 days later, and a final dose 21 to 28 days after the first dose.

Pets and Rabies

Vaccinating, spaying, and neutering your dogs and cats are the most effective methods of Rabies control. It will also save their lives if they are ever exposed to the Rabies virus. Talk to your veterinarian about the proper vaccination schedule for your pet. You can also learn more about how to prevent rabies in animals directly from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Central Indiana Bat Removal and Control Service

Call 317-535-4605 for safe and humane bat removal services in Indianapolis. Our licensed bat control specialists offer a wide range of residential and commercial bat extraction and exclusion services at the most competitive prices around. We only use safe, eco-friendly techniques and humane methods of bat abatement, including relocated captured bats to a faraway, safe habitat. We also offer 24 hour emergency service, free estimates, free advice, and more! Contact us anytime to request a free estimate, today.

Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605
Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605

Why are Bats Dangerous?

Bats are one of nature’s most fascinating mammals.  Not only do bats consume thousands of insects each night, their guano is an effective fertilizer used in multiple industries around the world.  With all of these positive characteristics in tow; what exactly makes a wild bat so dangerous to humans and pets? 

Continue reading to better understand why wild bats are dangerous and should be avoided at all costs by humans and domesticated animals.

Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control 317-535-4605
Angry pair of bats disturbed during hibernation.

Wild Bats Transmit Disease

There are various infectious diseases that bats can contract or carry.  These diseases are all hazardous to human and pet immune systems.  Bats are known to be carriers of the Rabies virus, Histoplasmosis, Leptospirosis, and even Salmonella.  All of these infections can be transferred, transmitted, and passed along to humans and pets; and they are all potentially fatal if left untreated.  

➥ Rabies

Rabies is a very well-known disease to the public.  This infection is often associated with rabid dogs, raccoons, and rats; however, the truth is, bats are common carriers of the Rabies virus as well.  A simple bat bite is all it takes to transfer saliva and bacteria into a person’s blood stream.  Some bats are so tiny, a person or pet cannot even tell they were bitten.  Once signs of illness begin to show, it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately if a person has been bitten or had contact with a wild bat.

Rabies affects the brain and nervous system, eventually causing death if untreated.  Humans are required to get a series of painful shots to eliminate the threat of spreading the virus.  Pets, on the other hand, are difficult to save once they become infected.  The virus is often times unpredictable because its incubation stages can differ drastically.  It can incubate in humans weeks and months before showing signs of contagion.

➥ Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is a disease that affects the upper respiratory system.  It is caused by the fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum, which occurs naturally in warm, moist climates.  It is widely spread by bat guano and other animal droppings.  To become infected, the spores simply have to be inhaled.  Common victims of this illness are homeowners with bat infestation problems, or miners and people that work underground or in cavernous environments.  Treatment is available and death is entirely avoidable; however, if left untreated, it can be quite devastating to whoever becomes infected.

➥ Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is another common and potentially fatal infection carried and passed on by wild bats.  IT is a bacterial disease that is spread through bodily fluids, usually urine.  It is contracted the same way as Histoplasmosis, and usually by people in similar vocations; such as miners, meat workers, farmers, and veterinarians.  It is also fatal if left untreated, but it is easily treatable if caught in the early stages.

Indianapolis Bat Removal You Can Trust

Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605
Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605

Call 317-535-4605 to get rid of bats safely and humanely Indianapolis, Indiana. We are happy to answer your questions and provide free estimate for bat removal and control services. Don’t let bats damage your property and cost you thousands of dollars in renovations! Let our DNR licensed and insured bat removal specialists provide the workable solutions you need.

Top 4 Signs of a Rabid Bat

Rabies is the most connected illness to bats. The reality is that countless other animals carry the rabies virus as well, but bats happen to be a notoriously known carrier. To catch rabies from a bat, a person or animal would have to be bitten, ingest their saliva, or come into contact with their waste matter.

If you ever come into contact with a suspected rabid bat, be sure to seek out immediate medical attention. For now, it is wise to learn the common signs of a bat that is infected with rabies.

Bat Removal and Control 317-535-4605

Bat Removal and Control 317-535-4605


There are various signs and symptoms a bat can demonstrate when it is infected with the rabies virus. From these various signs, there are 4 that tend to be parallel with most cases. If you see these signs in a bat, immediately get away from them and contact a licensed Indianapolis bat removal company for safe and humane extraction services. Never, under any circumstances, attempt to touch, trap, move, or harm a bat, regardless if it is ill or not.

Here are the top 4 signs of a rabid bat:

The Bat is Active in Daytime

Bats are nocturnal mammals, which mean they live in 3rd shift hours, between dusk and dawn. If a bat is seen active or awake during the daytime, it is a common indication of illness.

The Bat Cannot Fly

Bats are the only mammal on Earth capable of true flight. If you see a bat and it is having trouble flying, or cannot fly at all, it is a strong indication that they are ill; possibly with the Rabies virus.

The Bat Allows You to Come Close

Bats, like most wild animals, are not conditioned to trust humans. They will naturally flee or show defensive signs (i.e. growling, hissing, crouching, etc.) if humans attempt to come too close. So if a bat allows you to approach it, there is a good chance it is sick or seriously injured.

The Bat is Grounded

Well bats do not hang out near ground-level areas, nor any other place that exposes them to predators. When you find a bat on the ground, or some other unusual location, it is usually because they are sick or injured.

Did You Find Bats?

Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605

Indiana Bat Removal
317-535-4605

Call 317-535-4605 to get rid of bats in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. We are DNR licensed wildlife rescue and control professionals who specialize in a wide range of residential and commercial bat abatement services. We only use safe and humane methods to extract bats and prevent their return, and offer the most competitive prices in town. Request a free estimate, today.

Myths About North American Bats

There are many myths and false stereotypes about bats in North America, and even all across the world. Here in this blog, we’ll explore a few of those urban legends and clear up the misunderstandings surrounding these highly important and fascinating mammals.

Common Bat Myths

One common myth is that all bats carry the Rabies virus and infect millions of people around the continent every year. This is far from the truth. The reality is that fewer than 10 people in the last 50 years have been infected with Rabies as a result of a bat bite. Bats typically avoid people, and rarely attack unless cornered or provoked. If you are ever bitten by a bat, all you need to do is consult a doctor and you’ll be just fine.

Another bat urban legend is that some bat species consume blood, namely human blood. This urban legend is not entirely false, just embellished a bit. It is called a vampire bat. They do not actually suck blood, but rather, initiate a bite to a large warm-blooded animal, and then lick up the seeping blood. It is usually cattle that are the common hosts for Vampire bats. They do not bite or consume human blood.

Another common myth concerning bats is that all bats are blind. This is also not true. The misconception comes from the fact that Microbats use echolocation to hunt for insects and food at night. All bats actually see quite well during the day, it’s just that they mostly remain active at night, where they do not count on their eyesight to get around.

Have you ever heard that bats have hundreds of litters of bat babies? Well hopefully not, because this is not the truth. Bats are mammals and have a gestation period of about six months. Once they give birth, it is to usually one bat pup, and in rare cases, it may birth twins. It takes a long time for an entire bat colony to grow. Once bats are grown enough to withstand predators and fly on their own, they can live to almost 30 years!

Many also believe that bat droppings are poisonous. There are some special circumstances to this myth, but for the most part, it is untrue. Bat droppings are referred to as “guano”. Guano is a huge resource for many villages and tribes around the world. People craft household necessities from guano and use it for fertilizer as well. There are many uses for bat guano. However, bat guano can be harmful to ones health if it is digested or inhaled during a sporing stage. This is when fungus species begin to grow on the guano. Around large amounts of guano, people are encouraged to wear face respirators to avoid inhaling the fungus that can cause Histoplasmosis.

The Truth About Bats

Between movies, television, Halloween, and childhood stories, bats have been given an unfair stereotype. They are actually fascinating mammals with a sophisticated system for hunting and flying at night. They breed their young as humans do, having one pup a year; and they have incredible survival skills! They will not fly into your hair or suck your cat’s blood. They are trusting creatures that deserve respect and peace. If they are a nuisance to your property, use a local bat removal service to have them safely excluded.

Indianapolis Bat Removal

Call 317-535-4605 for prompt and professional Indianapolis bat removal and control services. We provide safe and humane bat removal for commercial and residential properties throughout Central Indiana. Trust us to remove bats and prevent their return, all at an affordable price. We are DNR licensed and insured wildlife control contractors with more than 20 years of experience working with nuisance bats. Call 317-535-4605 to get rid of bats in Indianapolis, IN today.