Evening temperatures are beginning to dip into the 50s in Iowa and it’ll mean more reports of bats worming their way into our homes.
Mark Langan, with the Humane Society office in Omaha-Council Bluffs, says they’re already starting to get calls from frightened homeowners who have unwelcome visitors.
“This happens pretty much every year around this time,” Langan says. “It cools off at night and the bats are trying to find warmth, so people are going to find more bats in their houses.” Langan says Iowans should be on the lookout for bats as they do pose a certain threat.
“Bats are rabies carriers which is why it’s important for people to call us if they find a bat in the house,” he says. Local animal control officers may also be called to remove the furry flying creatures. If you wake up and find a bat in your bedroom, or you’ve come in contact with a bat elsewhere in your house, you shouldn’t just wash your hands and ignore it.
“If anybody feels as though they’ve been exposed to a bat, we tell them to contact their doctor to seek medical advice,” he says. It’s also a good idea to “bat-proof” your home by making sure doors and windows are closed tightly and any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch are properly sealed.
By Karla James