"What is bat rabies?
Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the mammal’s central nervous system. It is spread by contact with the saliva of an infected animal.
Like other mammals, bats may have rabies. There are eight species of bats in Ontario, each of which has its own strain of rabies, but the more common strains are big brown bat, little brown bat, and silver-haired bat. The silver-haired bat tends to be reclusive and therefore rarely comes into contact with humans.
Rabid bats often lose their ability to fly, or do not fly well. They rarely become aggressive.
Human rabies from bats is a concern, but a relatively rare occurrence. In Canada, since 1925, five of the 26 cases of human rabies have been due to contact with an infected bat.
The last fatality in Canada was a 73 year old man from Alberta in April 2007 after contact with a rabid bat.
Careless handling of bats is the primary source of rabies exposure from bats.
What's the current situation with bat rabies in Ontario?
Despite large numbers of bats in southern Ontario, rabies is infrequent. From 2001 to 2005 there have been 314 bats confirmed with rabies in Ontario. Fewer than 2% of bats submitted for testing have rabies (2% of all bats acting strangely, dead, or have possibly bitten a human or pet). In the overall population, this percentage would be much lower.
Although the percentage of rabid bats is low, any bat encountered should be considered rabid unless captured and proven otherwise. Bats have small, needle-like teeth and claws. Bites or scratches from a bat can easily go undetected.
What is the response to bat rabies by the Ministry of Natural Resources?
The MNR, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, highlighted public awareness of bat rabies in 2001.
It is important that the public know that bats can carry rabies and that they should medical advice if they come into contact with a bat. (see MNR News Releases: May 2001)
Bats cannot be vaccinated using baits, as has been done for foxes and raccoons, as they are insect-eaters and will not consume vaccine baits. However, despite large numbers of bats in southern Ontario, rabies is infrequent. International research is being conducted on vaccination methods for bats
Bats are an important part of our ecosystem and help reduce the insect population. Warn children to stay away from all wild animals, including bats. Submit all dead, sick, or easily captured bats to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for rabies testing if exposure of people or pets has possibly occurred.
WE CAN Bat-proof your home, garage, shed,under your deck, guest/ pool house and out buildings, barns or shops."
quoted by: Environmental Health Bats Ontario Canada
The Number 1 way that BATS GET INTO YOUR HOUSE IS....THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR OR AN OPEN UN SCREENED WINDOW!!!
If you think you may have a Bat Problem Then Call Us:
AAA WILD ANIMAL REMOVAL & BAT SPECIALISTS
at GTA, Toronto Area
416-234-5208
Brampton, Oakville, Mississauga, Hamilton, Burlington, St. Catherines we cover
905-812-1386
Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph
519-569-7866
CITIES THAT AAA WILD ANIMAL REMOVAL AND BAT SPECIALISTS SERVICE:
ACTON ALLISTON ANCASTER AURORA AYLMER BADEN BANCROFT BELLEVILLE BLUE MOUNTIANS BOLTON BOWMANVILLE BRADFORD BRAMPTON BRUCE CALEDON EAST CALEDONIA CALLANDER CAMBRIDGE CARDIFF CAYUGA CLEARVIEW COLLINGWOOD CONESTOGO COOKSTOWN CRYSTAL BEACH DORSET DUNDAS DUTTON DWIGHT DUNNVILLE DOURO ELLIOT LAKE ELMIRA ESSEX FENWICK FIF’S BAY FINGAL FORT ERIE FOXBORO FRANKVILLE GANAOQUE GEORGETOWN GLOUCESTER GRAND BEND GRAVENHURST GREY HIGHLANDS GRIMSBY GUELPH HAGERSVILLE HAMILTON HARROW HASTINGS HAVELOCK HUNTSVILLE INGERSOLL INNISFIL JAK LAKE JOCKO POINT KASSHABOG LAKE KAWARTHA LAKES KINGSTON KINGSVILLE KITCHENER LAKE AT PETER LAKEFIELD LAKESHORE LONDON LONG POINT LEAMINGTON MADOC MAPLE MARKHAM MARMORA MARYHILL MEAFORD MINDEN MISSISSAUGA MISSISSAUGA LAKE MOUNT HOPE MOUNT PLEASANT NEWMARKET NIAGARA- ON-THE-LAKE NORTH BAY NORTH YORK NORWOOD OAKVILLE OSHAWA PERTH PELHAM PETERBOROUGH PICKERING PORT BRUCE PORT BURWELL PORT STANLEY PORTLAND REDDITT RICE LAKE RICHMOND HILL RODNEY RIDEAU LAKES SMITHS FALLS SMITHVILLE SPARTA SPRINGFIELD ST JACOBS ST JOSEPH ST THOMAS STAYNER ST CATHERINES STEVENSVILLE STIRLING STONEY CREEK STONY LAKE STOUVILLE STRATHROY STURGEON FALLS THORNHILL THORTON TILBURY TILSONBURG TORONTO TOTTENHAM TRENTON TWEED UNIONVILLE VAUGHAN VERMILION BAY VIRGIL WASAGA BEACH WATERDOWN WATERLOO WELLAND WELLESLEY WHEATLEY and all surrounding areas.
Written by:
Sue Hillard
