Reduced to a screaming girl

[NoNo]

I know damn well my fear is irrational (and I'm also arachnaphobic). I had no idea I was so petrified of bats since I'd never really encountered them up-close before. I don't know why, but that thing swooping around my living room just made me shut down. Landlord's guy never called him back, so tonight I told dad we're going back and taking care of this. We're leaving for Italy Friday and I haven't started packing yet! I need access to my house.

Next issue: rabies. Sure, the percentage is quite small that this thing has rabies. But should we trap it and get it tested? Now dad is telling me to call my doctor and see if they think I should be tested, in which case we'd have to cancel the trip. He's a hypochondriac, common sense has no place when it comes to medical issues. Should I just lie and say I called my doctor and they said I didn't need to be tested? He's also threatened to cancel the trip because of the AirFrance crash and the swine flu, so if I could ease one of his concerns......

[Biciclista]

they don't test you for rabies, they give you a set of really nasty shots.
that bat didn't come anywhere near you. I think you ought to just go and tell your dad to take a chill pill.

[Tuckervill]

You have to be bitten and blood drawn to get rabies. It's not a virus that just floats in the air. It can take a couple of months from first infection for it to get into your nervous system, so you should be good for your trip to Italy.

Karen

[redrhodie]

One of my earliest memories is of my brother waking me up in the middle of the night, totally panicked, putting a blanket over my head, and carrying me out of our bedroom. It made an awful impression on me, and I'm still afraid of bats. We got many in our creepy old Victorian house, once even in the dead of winter. I never felt at ease there on a summer night.

[Heifzilla]

In my county, we are required to have animal control catch the bat and turn it in for rabies testing. Problem is this: if there is a bat in your house, there is a possibilty it may have bitten you while you were sleeping, etc. and you'd probably never know it. I know this seems paranoid but rabies is fatal and we have a very large percentage of rabid bats here. So the idea is better safe than sorry.

[Tuckervill]

Uh, I think little bat fangs would hurt enough that I would KNOW that I was bitten. They don't just randomly bite people. They're looking for bugs. I guess if I were covered in bugs....

Karen

[Cataboo]

I think they act a little bit weird and aggressive when rabid and bite more than normal bats.

And my little brother could definitely sleep through a bat bite... Or an earth quake.

[Heifzilla]

Uh, I think little bat fangs would hurt enough that I would KNOW that I was bitten. They don't just randomly bite people. They're looking for bugs. I guess if I were covered in bugs....

Karen

When you're asleep you wouldn't feel it. That's why vampire bats are so successful at what they do.

A rabid bat (or any rabid animal for that matter) does not act like a normal animal, and will bite randomly. When the rabies starts to affect the animal, rabid animals will approach people when they normally would not, act friendly, or attack randomly. So, yes, it is a real threat.

I love bats and would hate to see one killed for no reason, but when it comes to rabies I am a wee bit paranoid.

[NoNo]

Update! Called the landlord and he went to look again. Was moving things around in the kitchen when he heard a chirping noise. Saw the bat on the floor. I'm guessing after two days without food and water, it was dying. In the meantime, I had called animal control and asked what their policy was for bats in the house. She said it has to be tested if it's been in living quarters. I also had to call the health department and arrange to get it shipped to Hartford for rabies testing. Called my landlord back and he said it's out of his hands now. He also mocked the "public health threat" the bat posed. Obviously, he's just worried about how this might affect his wallet So I called the health department, told them he wouldn't deal with it, what do I have to do? They can't take it alive (he had put it in a plastic bag and placed that in a cooler that was outside). Ok, how do I, uh, take care of it? They need to test the brain, so do go cracking it's skull. Either a hose to your tailpipe or freezing it is preferred. So I get to put this little bugger next to my hot dogs till tomorrow morning The good news is that the rabies results will be back usually within 24 hours, definitely some time Thursday, so I'd know before the trip. The bad news is I have to eat the cost of sending it to the lab, at least $100, because my landlord won't do his job

Edit: All the things I read said that if you're sleeping you most likely wouldn't know you had been bitten because the fangs and claws are so tiny. It is also standard procedure that any bat that's been around a child or intoxicated person needs to be tested. The child might lie because they don't want to get in trouble or don't realize how serious getting sick would be, and the drunk person wouldn't feel it.

[Kimmyt]

Do you have anywhere you can buy dry ice? Just put some dry ice in a cooler or something and put the carcass in there overnight.

[Zen]

It's his property and his responsibility. if the health department requires the testing can't they bill him?
He'd better find out how it got in or else lose a tenant and possibly face other legal problems.
Something along the lines of endangering the health of a tenant.

[NoNo]

I'm not sure where this falls in my lease. I know he's said if I have to buy something for the house, I can take it out of my rent. I don't know why this wouldn't fall under pest control, which is part of the lease, but he seemed very unconcerned about the whole thing. I foresee an uphill battle trying to get reimbursed for the test, let alone trying to convince him to get the house inspected. I really, really love the house and the location, I don't want to move. I'm hoping this was just an isolated incident with a wayward bat that somehow got in without my noticing.

Speaking of Mr. Bat, he was dropped off at the health department this morning. I had to fill out a very confusing rabies exposure form mainly because we don't know how long the bat was actually in the house. I know nobody came in contact with it Sunday, but I guess it's possible it could have been in there earlier than that, while I was sleeping. Results back possibly this afternoon, most likely tomorrow. I'm fairly certain everything will be fine. At least my house got a good cleaning last night!

[Heifzilla]

Results back possibly this afternoon, most likely tomorrow. I'm fairly certain everything will be fine. At least my house got a good cleaning last night!

Fingers crossed, otherwise you will be required to get the shots They're fairly expensive, and I think there is a series of five. They give them in the arm or thigh now. I believe most health insurance policies are required to cover them, too.

I know it seems like a total pain in the rear, but this is one virus you don't want to take chances with.

[Aggie_Ama]

According to my friend who is a vet, only two humans have lived with rabies and both are pretty much brain dead. I don't know how accurate that is but that is what he learned in vet school, he has been out 2 years. If you are concerned get the shots. He had them for vet school and did get sick but hey sick is better than death.

I don't think you need to be completely freaked out but you can err on the side of caution.

On a side note, I watched a documentary about humans fear response. It said it is actually a deep rooted response from our ancestors who know the things we fear are dangerous. Hey, I hate snakes and will have a response to any snake. Not a bad thing if you live in rattlesnake country. I know what to do and I am hoping to never have to face one.

[Kano]

I remember coming home to a bat in the house one night -- FIRST we saw the cat acting TOTALLY crazy -- leaping and twisting around the living room, then we saw what he was leaping at! Whacked the bat with a badminton racket and put him out, then had a repeat performance the next night. Found the "hole" in the house and put an end to the batty cat antics!

Karen in Boise