SASKATOON — The Ministry of Environment is assuring residents that rabies incidents in wild bats remain low in the province at an estimated three per cent.
The ministry said bats are more active during specific times of the year, including late summer and fall, and especially when young ones are learning to fly and trying to find suitable places to hunker down for the winter.
“Sometimes inexperienced bats make navigational mistakes and accidentally enter homes or buildings. If someone wakes up with a bat in their room, but sees no bite marks, the first step should be to contact their doctor or [the] local health authority (Healthline 811),” said the ministry.
It added bats have tiny teeth, which make bites and marks small and hard to see, suggesting that no bite was left. They reminded people that rabies post-exposure treatment is nearly 100 per cent effective when administered promptly after exposure.
The ministry said that it is better to be safe and seek treatment whenever you are exposed to or encounter a bat, whether at home or in any other facility, rather than ignoring it and developing symptoms later, which can sometimes be too late.
“This is especially important if a bat is found in the room with a child or someone who is incapacitated. Medical assessment should always take place after any direct contact with a bat, as untreated rabies is a fatal disease,” said the ministry.
Residents should not hold bats with their bare hands when trying to catch them if found inside a home, the ministry said. In addition, if someone is unknowingly exposed to or came into contact with a bat, and if the person might have been bitten or scratched, the individual should seek medical attention right away, the ministry said, as treatment is most effective when administered promptly.
Environmental officials added that bats play an important role in the environment, as they are major predators of night-flying insects, and should therefore be respected rather than feared. Many species are threatened or endangered due to a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome, among other factors.
The Ministry of Environment has information available online on its bats in Saskatchewan webpage and in its environment resource library. The Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative also has useful information for campers and cabin owners in their bats astray information sheet.
