Bats out in force in SC. Here’s how to protect yourself from bites and rabies, health experts say

As if cicadas and Asian long-horned beetles and Joro spiders aren’t enough to worry about, now comes bat season, when the unusually helpful animals can become a health problem in the form of rabies.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health rabies prevention team recently posted information about how to keep yourself safe.

Among the lessons — if you wake up to a bat in your room, consider yourself exposed. Bat in your room while sleeping? Nope.

In 2023, there were 472 bat bites in South Carolina, the largest number in the wild animal category, the Department of Public Health reported. The Centers for Disease Control says contracting rabies from a bat is low — one to two cases a year across the country. Less than 1/10 of 1% of wild bats have rabies, the federal agency says.

Bat season is well underway — mid-June to November — after pups are born in the spring.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources says bats save South Carolina’s agricultural industry over $115 million each year in pest suppression ($22.9 billion for the entire country). They pollinate and, for humans, a huge plus is they eat mosquitoes — 1,200 in an hour.

Fifteen of the 47 bat species documented in the U.S. are found in South Carolina. One species, gray bats, a federally endangered species, was found just last year in Greenville and Oconee counties.

Bats are nocturnal, so when you see one during the day, consider they may be infected with rabies. Also, one unable to fly. But then again, some bats with rabies don’t show any signs.

Fun fact: bats are the only mammal that can fly.

Bats usually roost in caves (like Batman), cliffs, and tree hollows but sometimes find their way into attics, roofs, soffits and even walls.

They hang upside down so they can launch for flight. They can’t take off from the ground.

Public health said it was offering advice in anticipation of bat season, not because there had been an uptick in rabies.

“It is critical to know that people, especially children, can be bitten by a bat and not know it,” officials said in a news release. “That is because bats have tiny teeth.”

Here’s what DPH says to do if you find a bat in your house:

• Trap it. Use a sealed container and keep it cold, not frozen. There is a video online that shows how to do this. Wait until it lands, sneak up behind it, put a bucket over it and slide cardboard between the wall and bucket. Tape it up and send it to the health department. They will test for rabies, if needed.
• Figure out how they are getting in and seal the opening. Bats can fit through a quarter of an inch opening.
• Do not let the bat leave your house and do not touch it. Close all windows and doors and if you’re squeamish call a wildlife control operator.

• Seek medical attention when a confirmed or suspected exposure (to include waking to find a bat in the room) has occurred.

CDC has information on how to “bat-proof” your home.

• Natural repellents like cinnamon, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils can deter bats due to their strong sense of smell. Apply these oils on potential entry points or use them as a spray around your property.
• Provide an alternative roosting option by installing bat houses away from your living spaces. This encourages bats to roost in a designated area, keeping them at a distance from your home. Designated bat houses can easily be purchased online or at your local home supply store.
• Eliminate standing water that attracts bats and provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Trim trees and bushes that offer shelter for bats.
• Clean up fruit on the ground.
• Use motion activated lights.
• Create light barriers and use ultrasonic devices. Bats don’t like high-pitched sounds.
• If you’re bitten: wash the wound and see a doctor.