{"id":34586,"date":"2013-05-02T20:38:52","date_gmt":"2013-05-03T00:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/miserybay.usanethosting.com\/wordpress\/?p=34586"},"modified":"2013-05-02T20:38:52","modified_gmt":"2013-05-03T00:38:52","slug":"bats-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/bats-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring has arrived, and soon the bats will too"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some say bats get a bad rap
\nAfter the crazy winter we had, most everyone is more than ready for spring’s sunshine and warmer temperatures. But with the return of spring and the welcome sight of budding trees and blooming flowers, also comes the return of something not so cheery- bats darting across the nighttime sky.
\nSome say bats get a bad rap, and while they do help reduce the mosquito population somewhat, they are also the most common animal in Michigan to transmit rabies, a viral infection contracted through direct contact from an infected animal. And for that reason, we are wise to be cautious of the furry little creatures.
\nAccording to Dr. Robert Graham, Medical Director for the Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD), rabies is always fatal if left untreated. Therefore, he advises anyone who has been bitten by a bat seek medical attention right away.
\nResidents should also be aware that bats have small teeth which may leave marks not easily seen, and that there are situations in which you should take action, even without an obvious bite wound. According to Graham, if a bat is found in the room of a sleeping person, in the room of an unattended child, or near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, it should be treated as though a bite occurred, and you should take the following actions:
\n\u00b7 Capture the bat: Most people do not realize that in order to be tested for rabies, a bat’s head must be kept intact, so hitting it with any type of object, such as a tennis racket, is not advised. The first step in safely capturing a bat is to make sure not to touch it with your bare skin (leather work gloves are ideal). Have a small box or coffee can, a piece of cardboard and tape ready. When the bat lands, approach it slowly. Place the box or coffee can over the bat and then slide the cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape the cardboard securely to the container and contact the health department at 989-227-3111 in Clinton County, 989-875-1019 in Gratiot County, or 989-831-3615 in Montcalm County for euthanizing instructions and to discuss testing and treatment options. To see a video demonstration on safe bat capture, visit www.mmdhd.org<\/a> (click on “community health” and then on “communicable disease).
\n\u00b7 Notify MMDHD or your local health department right away, as the bat may need to be tested for rabies. The health department will tell you what further actions, if any, need to be taken.
\nIt is important to note that:
\n\u00b7 Bats should not be placed in the freezer.
\n\u00b7 Residents who have captured a bat are asked to call the health department at 989-227-3111 in Clinton County, 989-875-1019 in Gratiot County or 989-831-3615 to determine if it needs to be tested.
\n\u00b7 Residents should not bring a bat to the health department without calling first.
\nResidents are also advised to bat-proof their homes by making sure to replace any loose soffits, flashings, eaves and siding. Be sure to cover roof vents with screens, make sure all doors shut tightly with no gaps, and that window screens are not damaged or torn.
\nSkunks, raccoons, foxes, and unvaccinated cats and dogs are also likely rabies carriers. To help protect yourself from rabies, avoid approaching or touching any wild or stray animal. And remember, if you are bitten by a bat or other wild or stray animal, contact your health care provider immediately for treatment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some say bats get a bad rap<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34586"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34586\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}