Bats and Rabies in Minneapolis and St. Paul

Minnesota's bats are very active this month as they prepare for their winter hibernation. August is the peak month for human-bat interactions, and whether you find them fascinating or terrifying, this month is when Minnesotans, humans and animals, are most at risk from bat bites.

Bat bites or scratches can be serious as a small percentage of bats carry rabies.

Bat bites are rare, but do happen. Five fatal cases of rabies from bat bites have been reported in Minnesota in the last century, including a man who died after contracting rabies from a bat bite in August 2007.

Here's advice from the Minnesota Department of Health if you have had contact with a bat, or suspect you or someone else may have;

Medical advice should be sought for any potential exposure to a bat... bat bites are difficult to see and may not be noticed. If you have any physical contact with a bat, you should wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and water.

The MDH recommends that the bat should be captured, while wearing heavy gloves, so it can be tested for rabies. If the bat is killed, it is important not to damage the head so the bat's brain can be examined for evidence of rabies. If the bat is captured alive, it should be contained in a sturdy can or box such as a metal coffee can. Bats can bite through fabric, such as blankets or pillowcases, and thin plastic.

If a bat is found in a room with an unattended child, a sleeping person, or anyone who cannot reliably communicate what happened, the bat should be captured and tested for rabies, and medical attention sought for the person.

• More advice from the Minnesota Department of Health about Bats, Bites and Rabies
• Avoiding exposure to bats: Bat Conservation International explains how to bat-proof your home

And there is some good news about bats: they eat mosquitoes. Lots of mosquitoes. So while we should avoid contact with bats, they have a very beneficial role in Minnesota's ecosystem.