Bat in my bedroom

[Bolas 5]

So I went to bed late cuz I was catching up on the bonfire from last weekend.
I'm lying in bed and I hear a noise like something flying. I first thought it was a moth but the shadow flew over the bed and it was no moth. I immediately thought bat and then did what any red blooded american manly man would do: I hid under the covers.
After thinking "Oh shit, it may have rabies." I decided to get out of there. Since the light was off the thing was flying everywhere. I managed to run out of the room with my bathrobe over my head and shut the door. I then go around the apartment and shut the other door to the bathroom, trapping it in my room. Once out I cracked open the door, timed his flight, reached in, and quickly turned on the lights.
I thought about calling my landlord but it's 2 AM. I did call animal control who was closed and had a message to call the sheriff for animal emergencies. I decided against that and decided to check the door again.
Since the light was on he chilled out on the ceiling far away from the main door, by the bathroom door. I got my digital camera and took a picture by barely poking the camera in and using the zoom. Now that he was chilled out I decided to catch it. I found an ice bucket with a top, put on my trusty Pro-Tec helmet and my skydiving gloves. I decided to go in through the bathroom because I could close off the other door so if he got out he wouldn't be loose in the whole apartment.
I quietly took the bucket, brought it up to the ceiling and I had the bat captured. I tried to put the slide the top on the icebucket on the ceiling but forgot about the the handle which was an inch or so off the bucket. No way I was lifting that thing for even a second. Luckily it was just screwed in so I unscrewed it and got the handle and the screw off with one hand while pressing the bucket to the ceiling with all my strength like this little bat would be able to push out if I didn't. I then was able to slide the lid on and take it down from the ceiling.
Once in I realized the bat had no airhole except for the small one where the screw was, I was looking for something else to put on top. I found a screen but then learned why the lid had a handle: it was a tight flush fit.
I finally got it off with a screwdriver and switched tops but the bat had stopped squeaking and moving. I thought I heard it squeak and move once but it hasn't lately.
Currently the bucket with the screen and the bat are outside on the porch. I figured if for some reason it got free, it wouldn't be inside the apartment.
Just checked on him and he didn't move when I slid him around the bucket. I thought I saw his ears move so I blew on him. He started squeaking away. So until I call animal control tomorrow, he is okay.

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

[mccurley 1]

So if it's outside on the porch, why not take of the lid and let him go? It's not likely to come back inside is it?

Watch my video Fat Women
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRWkEky8GoI

[Bolas 5]

I'm going to call animal control tomorrow. They might want to test it for rabies or something.

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

[VampireGirl 0]

Hey that's me

LET ME OUTTTTTT

www.sneale-create.com

[turtlespeed 226]

Let it go -

How would you like to be all shut up in an ice bucket with a screen on top?

All for wanting to check out a nice meal of bugs that you though the owner of the house didn't want.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[kimgriffin 0]

OMG... that's a funny story! Too bad no one filmed you in your Protec and Newmann gloves trying to catch it. Thanks for the laugh this morning. ~Kim

[EdC 0]

I got this from Bat Conservation.Org They have some information you might find useful.

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How dangerous are bats?
Bat rabies accounts for approximately one human death per year in the United States. Thus, some people consider bats to be dangerous. Nevertheless, dogs which often are considered "man's best friend," attack and kill more humans annually than die from bat rabies in a decade. Statistically speaking, pets, playground equipment, and sports are far more dangerous than bats. Clearly, bats do not rank very high among mortality threats to humans. Nevertheless, prudence and simple precautions can save lives.

What is rabies, and how is it transmitted?
Rabies is an infectious viral disease that invades the central nervous system of humans and other warm-blooded animals. A wide variety of mammals can contract the disease, but it is most often noticed in dogs, cats, foxes, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, bats, and livestock. Worldwide, more than 30,000 humans die of rabies each year, 99% of these cases resulting from contact with dogs. In the United States, due to highly successful dog vaccination programs, transmission from dogs is now rare, eliminating the vast majority of human cases.

Rabies is nearly always transmitted by a bite, though non-bite exposures can result from contact between infected saliva or nervous tissues and open wounds or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth. Careless handling is the primary source of rabies exposure from bats.

Rabies virus has not been isolated from bat blood, urine or feces, and there is no evidence of air-borne transmission in buildings. Two cases of aerosol transmission were reported in the 1950's in Texas caves that support very unusual environments. However, no similar cases have occurred since, despite the fact that many thousands of people explore bat caves each year. No such transmission has occurred outside or in buildings.

Which bat variances of the rabies virus have been transmitted to humans?
Rabies virus variances associated with six of the 45 bat species living in the continental United States have been transmitted to humans. These include the silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), the Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), the eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus), and two species that were not positively identified. These are suspected of having been western (Myotis ciliolabrum) and eastern (M. leibii) small-footed myotis. Variances of the rabies virus attributed to bats that commonly live in buildings have been associated with eight human fatalities in U.S. history.

Do large bat populations lead to increased incidence of rabies transmission to humans?
The largest urban bat populations consist almost exclusively of colonial species, and there is no evidence linking them to increased transmission to humans. Tens of thousands of people have closely observed the emergences of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats at the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas each summer for over 16 years without incident. In fact, though Austin, San Antonio, and several other Texas Hill Country towns likely support the highest bat densities in America, they have recorded no human cases of bat-transmitted rabies.

Are bats likely to cause rabies outbreaks in other wildlife or in domestic animals?
There is no evidence that rabies from bats has ever triggered an outbreak in other animals. It occasionally does spill over into other species, causing individual animals to die, but even this is apparently rare. Despite the fact that numerous carnivores gather to feed on the 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats at Bracken Cave, Texas, no outbreaks of rabies are known from this source. No transmission from bats to dogs is known to have occurred, though rare cases of transmission to cats have been documented. The presence or absence of bats is irrelevant to the fact that all dogs and cats should be vaccinated.

What can be done to prevent rabies transmission to humans?
By far the most important prevention is dog and cat vaccination. Also, children should be especially warned never to handle any unfamiliar animal. Explain that wild animals that can be touched may be rabid and dangerous. Ninety to 95% of sick bats are not rabid, but taking a careless chance on being bitten could prove fatal. Any animal bite should be reported immediately to a family physician or public health professional for evaluation as a possible rabies exposure.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend pre-exposure vaccinations for people who are at high risk of exposure, such as rabies researchers, veterinarians, field biologists, and animal rehabilitators. Vaccines currently available include Imovax (HDCV--a human diploid cell vaccine) and Rabavert (PCEC--a purified chick embryo cell vaccine). Vaccinations are administered on days 0, 7, and 21 or 28. For those at continued risk of exposure to rabies, a booster dose of vaccine or serology may be necessary at intervals of 6 months to 2 years.

What are the symptoms of rabies?
Rabies causes fatal inflammation of the brain or spinal cord. Symptoms most often develop about 10 days to seven months after infection, and death follows 2-12 days after symptoms appear. Early symptoms in humans include pain, burning, and numbness at the site of infection. Victims complain of headaches, inability to sleep, irritability, muscle spasms of the throat and difficulty swallowing. Convulsions may occur, followed by unconsciousness and death.

Rabies is often referred to as hydrophobia because victims fear swallowing. Drinking or eating can bring on muscle spasms of the throat. The fear of swallowing also accounts for saliva accumulation referred to as "foaming" at the mouth. Infected animals may be either agitated and aggressive or paralyzed and passive. Dogs, cats, and other carnivores often become aggressive and try to attack humans and other animals, but bats are typically passive. Bats normally bite only in self-defense if handled, and aggressive behavior is rare even when rabid.

How should potential exposures to rabid bats be evaluated and treated?
Any bat that bites a human should be tested for rabies as soon as possible, and post-exposure treatment should begin immediately unless the bat is confirmed negative. Bat bites are typically felt and detected at the time. Visual examination for bite marks is unreliable. If visible at all, bites may appear only as a single tiny puncture or scratch. Most punctures are a millimeter or less in diameter, and most bat inflicted scratch marks are less than a centimeter long. Extenuating circumstances can make detection difficult. If a lost or sick bat hides in bedding, it could be inadvertently pinched during one's sleep, bite, and leave without detection. Also, people hauling in firewood or moving outdoor lumber piles may accidentally poke and be bitten by a bat without noticing. These are obviously remote possibilities, though wearing gloves when moving wood piles could provide protection. If a young child or a mentally incapacitated person is found alone with a bat in the same room and the possibility of a bite cannot be eliminated, post-exposure treatment should be considered unless prompt testing of the bat can rule out infection. When questioning about possible exposure, it is essential first to calm fears of painful shots. For the majority of patients, the post-exposure shots are less painful than tetanus vaccinations. Also, persons who wake up with a bat in the same room where they have been sleeping are advised to submit it for testing, especially if the bat is unable to fly or seems weak.

What is the recommended treatment for a known or suspected rabies exposure?
Modern rabies treatment is highly effective and relatively painless. Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis should begin as soon after exposure as possible. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposed humans who have not previously been vaccinated against rabies should receive an initial IM injection of Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG), twenty international units per kilogram body weight or nine international units per pound of body weight in total. If anatomically feasible, the full dose of HRIG should be thoroughly infiltrated in the area around and into the wound(s). Any remaining volume should be administered intramuscularly at a site distant from vaccine inoculation. The HRIG is followed by a series of five 1.0 ml of either Imovax (HDCV--a Human Diploid Cell Vaccine) or Rabavert (PCEC--a purified chick embryo cell vaccine). The vaccination series is given on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28. Vaccines are administered intramuscularly in the deltoid region. Persons who have previously received rabies vaccination should receive two 1.0 ml IM doses of either of the two vaccines given above, one on day 0, the second on day 3.

Where can the vaccine be obtained?
Rabies post-exposure vaccinations can be obtained from hospitals, emergency clinics, and doctors. If unavailable locally, vaccines and human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) can be obtained as follows: 1) Imovax (HDCV) and Imogan (HRIG) from Aventis Pasteur at (800) 822-2463; 2) Rabavert (PCEC) from Chiron at (800) 244-7668; 3) Bayrab (HRIG) from Bayer at (800) 288-8370. Additional information is available from the Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at (404) 639-1075 during working hours, or at (404) 639-2888 on nights, weekends, or holidays.

Are there other diseases to be concerned about from bats?
The only other disease of public health concern in the United States is Histoplasmosis, which is caused by a fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum. This fungus lives in soil enriched by bird or bat droppings. Human infection is common in and adjacent to the Ohio and Mississippi River drainages where warm, humid climates favor fungal development. The fungus is rare in dry western and cool northern climates. It can be present, but is uncommon in dry, hot attics of buildings. Infection is caused by inhalation of air-borne spores in dust enriched by animal droppings. The vast majority of histoplasmosis cases in humans are asymptomatic or involve no more than flu-like symptoms, though a few individuals may become seriously ill, especially if exposed to large quantities of spore-laden dust. The disease can be avoided by not breathing dust suspected of being enriched by animal feces. Risks from bats are no different from those of birds.

What about West Nile virus?
Despite what you may have heard, bats do not transmit the West Nile Virus to people or other animals. The virus is transmitted to people by infected mosquitoes. Members of only two bat species have been found to be infected with the virus and, like most other mammals, bats are "dead-end hosts" - they do not transmit the virus back to mosquitoes as birds do.

Let nature help
Natural predators that feed on mosquitoes - including bats, birds, fish, and other insects - can play an important role in reducing insect-borne diseases. Although no single approach to mosquito control is appropriate for all locations, encouraging these natural defenses should be an important part of long-term control whenever possible. Quick-fix options, such as wide-scale chemical applications and expensive mosquito-killing machines, are not practical. They often endanger human health and threaten non-target insects and animals. They also, over time, kill far more predators of mosquitoes than mosquitoes, actually aiding mosquito population growth and increasing demands for stronger and more dangerous pesticides.

Big Ed

[ladyskydiver 0]

awwww...that bat's cute.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[turtlespeed 226]

like I said - let it go.

please.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[Remster 30]

Quote

I got this from Bat Conservation.Org They have some information you might find useful.

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blablabla

And no cooking information? What kind of website is that?

Remster

[jceman 1]

Quote

like I said - let it go.

please.

Amen!

You do know how they test for rabies, right?


Is it worth sentencing the little guy to death just because he was in your room?

Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money.

Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot them?

[turtlespeed 226]

Everyone klnows that bat is better when it's Bar-B-Q'd

Edited -

That is why the test is desireable - Don't want to kill it yourself - let someone else do a rabies test and slice up the little guys brain.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[boinky 0]

Damn...and I thought I was having an interesting start to the New Year. How in the hell did it get into your apartment? I wonder how long its been in there?

While I originally concurred that you should just let him go, after reading the article about bats that Big Ed printed, I am sort of leaning towards letting animal control have him and let them decide the proper course of action.

Probably nothing to be concerned about, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Good luck!
Nina

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

[mailin 0]

We used to get bats in my parents home all the time. Several of them ended up in my bedroom with a scenario much like you described.

We always let them go and never thought of doing anything other than that. They don't do anything wrong - just got lost and wandered into the house and try real hard to find a way out.

Please let him go


Jen

Arianna Frances

[Kid_Icarus 0]

We had a bat in the house once. Tip: Once caught put the bat in a plastic tupperware. Put Tupperware in washing machine. Spin cycle...no water for 1min 30 secs. Remove. Open lid. Bat won't be going anywhere for 20-30 mins. Guaranteed

________________________________________
"What What.....

[boinky 0]

Quote

We had a bat in the house once. Tip: Once caught put the bat in a plastic tupperware. Put Tupperware in washing machine. Spin cycle...no water for 1min 30 secs. Remove. Open lid. Bat won't be going anywhere for 20-30 mins. Guaranteed

OUCHIE!!!

I'm not liking this idea at all. I'm not a huge animal activist or anything like that, but would YOU want to be put into a airtight container and then tossed and tumbled about for 1 1/2 minutes?

Not to mention, think of the ways you could get into trouble if that got out. Just look at the trouble that guy got into for tossing his guinea pig out the window with the "makeshift" parachute.

I'm still leaning towards either letting him go or letting animal control have him.

Nina

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

[Nightingale 0]

let him go!

Animal control will just kill it.

[Kid_Icarus 0]

[turtlespeed 226]

Quote

but would YOU want to be put into a airtight container and then tossed and tumbled about for 1 1/2 minutes?

[PhillyKev 0]

We put a bat house at my Mom's house to attract them. Works way better than a bug light to keep skeeters and other bugs away in the summer.

[turtlespeed 226]

Lol - yeah - but it scares the hell outta gramma!

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[Bolas 5]

Quote

If a lost or sick bat hides in bedding, it could be inadvertently pinched during one's sleep, bite, and leave without detection.

Sorry, the bat's gotta be tested.

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

[Randy_H 0]

Quote

Let it go -

let it go! animal control would probably destroy it. And isn't it bad karma for a skydiver to contribute to the death of anything that flies unless it is an insect?

Besides, they eat bugs!

again, please let it go!

010010010110010101100001011101000111000001110101011100110111001101111001

[boinky 0]

Quote

but would YOU want to be put into a airtight container and then tossed and tumbled about for 1 1/2 minutes?
------------------------------------------------------------
.....Thinking.....still thinking....... Yes. Yes I think I would........
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Was that an option?

Where do you sign up?

OK...you're all scaring me now, worse than the bat is.

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

[GTAVercetti 0]

Quote

Sorry, the bat's gotta be tested.

Why?

My parents get bats all the time. Never had any tested. And yet,they are still kickin'.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.