You cant get rabies from bats flying around in your yard. Less then 1% of all bats are found to have rabies. Human exposure to rabies is usually due to accidental or careless handling of bats. Rabies can only be transmitted through a bite or from bat saliva entering a cut or wound. Bats should never be touched with bare hands. Avoid bats that display abnormal behavior such as those found active during the day or are unable to fly. Teach children to never pick up a bat. Have all dogs and cats vaccinated for rabies.
Every bat bite or contact must be considered a potential exposure to rabies. If there has been an encounter, wash the area with soap and water then seek medical attention. Capture the bat, alive if possible, and dont damage the head.
If the bat is dead, keep it in a clean jar in the refrigerator (not the freezer) until it is submitted for rabies testing. Rabies is fatal once the symptoms appear, but the virus has a long incubation period. Prompt vaccination after exposure can prevent the disease in humans. Rabies shots are no longer the painful ordeal they once were. They are usually given in the arm, and are no more painful than a tetanus shot, but they are very expensive. Testing the bat is the best way to know if shots are needed.
