Most of the fears that people have about bats are based on information that is either exaggerated or completely untrue. Bats are not the bloodthirsty, disease-ridden creatures that they are often made out to be. In fact, they help humans by eating insect pests and pollinating food crops. The ecosystem wouldn’t function very well without bats. They deserve our respect, but fear is actually counterproductive.

Do Bats Bite People and Drink Blood?

Of the 1,411 bat species in the world, only three feed parasitically on blood. These three species live in either South or Central America, and even those few rarely bite humans because they prefer the blood of animals if they can get it. There are no bat species in Canada that drink blood.

Bats Can Bite in Self-Defence if Provoked

Canadian bats feed primarily on insects. They fear humans and try to avoid them if possible. However, if a bat is cornered, it may feel threatened and try to bite in self-defence. This is most likely to happen if you try a do-it-yourself removal. The bats do not understand that you are trying to help and may try to bite so that you’ll drop them and they can make their escape. This is one reason that professional bat removal in Victoria is so important; Skedaddle technicians know how to remove bats without harming them or putting you or your family at risk.

It is rare for a bat to get into the living space of your home. However, this is another scenario in which a bat may bite. If a bat is in your bedroom and you move while you are sleeping, the bat may feel threatened and bite if it happens to be near or on the bed at that moment. Bat teeth are small and may leave no mark. If you find a bat in your bedroom in the morning, you should call your doctor and contact professional wildlife removal on Vancouver Island, but this is an unlikely scenario.

Do Bats Carry Diseases?

Bats have a reputation as a disease reservoir that is probably exaggerated. Bats are subjects in many studies on pathogen discovery, so there may be a research bias against bats that has taken hold in the public imagination. It certainly is not true that every bat is infected with diseases that are dangerous to humans.

Nevertheless, it is true that bats can carry diseases that can spread to humans, and because some of these diseases can be severe, it is important to have professional bat removal in Victoria to resolve the problem safely and thoroughly. If a bat that is infected with rabies bites you, it could spread the virus to you through its saliva. Rabies attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal, but it takes days or weeks to incubate. There is an effective vaccine against rabies that can protect you if you start the inoculation course promptly after a possible exposure. There is a greater risk that your dog or cat could get bitten by a bat if your pet’s predatory instincts kick in, but as long as you keep your pet’s vaccinations current, there is little to no chance that it could be infected with rabies.

Another disease risk from bat infestation is histoplasmosis. Bat droppings contain fungal spores that can cause flu-like symptoms and potentially dangerous complications, including meningitis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Some people, especially those with weakened immune systems, develop chronic histoplasmosis.

Skedaddle Understands Bats

Generally speaking, if you leave bats alone, they’ll leave you alone. Nevertheless, having them in your house isn’t healthy for either you or the animals. Hiring professional wildlife removal on Vancouver Island reduces the risk of suffering an injury or contracting an illness from a bat. Skedaddle technicians are trained to remove an entire bat colony without spreading any viruses or bacteria they may be carrying or leave behind. Our services include cleaning and decontaminating where wild animals have been following removal. Learn more about the services we offer in your area.