Bats

*ATTENTION*

NEVER HANDLE A BAT WITH BARE HANDS!

Bats are a rabies vector species. Rabies is fatal to humans once symptoms appear. Keep your pets away. If your pet has come in contact with a bat call your veterinarian and make sure that your pet is up to date on its vaccinations.

If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, please contact the MN Department of Health and your doctor to determine if the bat must be submitted for rabies testing and if post exposure rabies vaccinations are required.

  • Was a human or pet bitten by this bat or exposed to its saliva?

  • Was the bat caught by a pet or was a pet physically exposed to the bat?

  • Did a human handle the bat with bare hands?

  • Was the bat in a room with a small child or person who cannot communicate?

  • Was the bat in a room while someone was sleeping?

  • Was the bat found in a home or public building?

MN Department of Health 651-201-5414

Note: The information contained in this text regarding health and/or safety precautions may not be adequate for all individuals and/or situations. It is the reader’s obligation to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. We are not responsible for injuries or illnesses occurred from you intertacting with wild animals. Do so at your own risk. If you do not feel comfortable handling the animal do not handle it.

Minnesota Bat Species

Our state is home to seven species of bats.

We have three tree-dwelling species that migrate in the spring and fall.

We also have four cave-dwelling species that hibernate in colonies during the winter. These are the most commonly discovered bats. They are often found grounded or in structures that are undergoing remodeling.

Cave-dwelling Species

  • Tricolor Bat

  • Big Brown Bat (pictured top right)

  • Northern Long-eared Bat (pictured bottom right)

Tree-dwelling Species

  • Hoary Bat (pictured left)

  • Eastern Red Bat

  • Silver-haired Bat

  • Little Brown Myotis (pictured middle right)

Does This Bat Need Help?

If the bat meets the following criteria it needs to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. Do not handle any bat without gloves. See “Containing the Bat” below.

  • Cave-dwelling species should not be on the ground. Please see below for information on containing the bat.

    Tree-dwelling species may be blown from the tree during storms, often during maternity season. If the bat(s) is healthy/uninjured put on thick gloves and find a small branch that the bat can grasp onto with its back feet and then place her/them 15-20 feet up the tree (preferably) 20 minutes after sunset.

  • Attacked by another animal, wound, parasites, white substance on nose, known trauma, etc.

  • Cave-dwelling species sometimes use human-made structures to hibernate in. All bats found indoors during hibernation must be brought to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator for care and overwintering unless the MN Department of Health advises the bat be sent in for rabies testing.

    If you saw a bat fly indoors during warm months, open windows and exterior doors. The bat will leave eventually. If it falls to the floor it needs medical attention. See below for information on containing the bat. If you find a bat inside and are unsure how long it has been there you need to call the MN Department of Health.

  • Likely injured or ill.

  • Bats should be feisty. If approached they should either fly away from you or show their teeth, open their wings and make chirping/clicking noises at you in defense.

  • If a bat is covered in mites, flies, fly eggs (they look like tiny grains of rice), fleas, ticks, etc. they are not being grooming themselves and are in poor health. Lack of grooming can be a sign of rabies.

Orphaned?

Although uncommon, even very small pups can have rabies. Do not handle any bat without gloves. Below is a list of signs to determine if the pup is orphaned and needs to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator:

  • If a pup is covered in mites, flies, fly eggs (they look like tiny grains of rice), fleas, ticks, etc. they are not being groomed by their parents and are in poor health.

  • Open wound, broken bone, white substance on nose, contact with a predator or other trauma, etc.

  • If a pup has been under human care for 6+ hours or fed anything from a human caretaker it needs to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.

  • Bats distribute their fat reserves differently than other mammals. If a pup has sunken shoulder blades or a skinny nose these are signs they need to be rescued. Contact us for confirmation before intervening.

  • Cats create tiny puncture wounds that seal over quickly and create pockets that become infected.

    Dogs crush when they bite and create internal injuries that may not present for a couple of days.

  • Bats need to be warm in order to feed. If you found a cold and/or lethargic pup please contact us right away.

  • If you find pups on a deceased mother or if you are unsure about a dead bat near pups please contact us.

  • If you found a colony and there is a pup on the ground you MUST know which bat is the mother. Orphans will try to steal milk from other nursing mothers, but this cannot sustain them or the other pup(s).

Containing the Bat

If you believe that the animal needs help, please contact us so we can discuss the situation with you and walk you through safely containing it/them. Your safety should be your top priority.

Here is a video that the MN Department of Health created with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of MN (WRC) on how to safely capture a bat. If it safe to do so, please follow these steps to contain the animal(s):

  1. Contact us so we can discuss the situation with you.

  2. Get an appropriately sized box for the animal. You may also use a paper bag with the top folded close as long as there are air holes poked in it before the animal is inside.

  3. Put a towel or paper towels on the bottom of the box and another small piece of fabric for the animal(s) to snuggle in.

  4. Babies: Using gloves, use the hand towel to gently guide the pup into the box. Tip the container on its side and then use something to gently push the bat into the container. Slowly tip the box upright and place another small towel over the animal. Any bat may bite. Please be cautious of their mouths.                                               

    Adults: Assume that it will try to bite you. You can capture a bat the same way you would capture a spider. Put the container over the bat and very gently and slowly slide the lid underneath it. Be extremely careful not to injure the toes. You may also use a twig (2+ feet long) and allow it to grasp it with its feet and then move it into the container. Wear thick gloves when doing this and do not handle the bat.

  5. Secure the lid well.

  6. Put a heating pad underneath 1/3 of the box so the animal can move if it gets too hot. Make sure that it is on the lowest setting to prevent burns.

    • Warm water bottles, Hot Hands packs and warmed rice socks also work if you don’t have a heating pad. Do not place these items inside the box with the animal.

  7. Wash your hands.

  8. Bring the bat to us immediately. If this is not an option, please try to find it a ride. In the meantime, put the container in a warm, dark, quiet area of your home or garage that is away from pets, children and noise.

  9. DO NOT GIVE ANY FOOD OR LIQUIDS TO THE ANIMAL!

  10. DO NOT hold, cuddle or talk to the animal. Keep away from pets.