Living with Wildlife - February 2021

Did you know bats exist in Orange County? Many folks are unaware that bats are native to this area. Sometimes their first encounter with a bat is when one flies into their home through an open window on a summer evening or their dog or cat brings one in from the yard. 

Here is what you should know:

• Bats can be found in any city in Orange County.
• They are extremely beneficial and eat flying insects.
• They can carry and transmit rabies which is almost, always fatal.
• They are the most common carrier of rabies in wildlife in California followed distantly by skunks.
• County, 14 in Riverside, and only seven and four in San Bernardino and San Diego Counties, respectively.

Because bats can carry rabies, it’s mandatory that dogs are vaccinated for rabies and licensed.

Here is what you should do if you encounter a bat:

If the bat is outside at nighttime, especially if it is flying around, then leave it alone. The bat is doing its job eating many insects! Sometimes, the bat will take a rest, and you might see it hanging from a high place or high on a wall. Do not disturb the bat. Bats are nocturnal and will usually return to their roost before daylight.

If you see the bat during the day, on the ground, inside your home or garage or if you believe a bat has come into contact with any person or pet (even if the bat flew away), call Mission Viejo Animal Services immediately at 949-470-3045. Do not rely on the ability to see a wound on your pet to determine if there was contact. The bite wound from a bat is tiny and would be difficult to see on a furry animal. Sometimes, even people have been bitten by bats in their sleep and were not immediately aware of the bite. If it is after hours, call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 949-770-6011, and the agency will dispatch an Animal Services Officer. An officer will come to your home to look for the bat and possibly capture it to have it tested for rabies.

Make sure your dog is current on its rabies vaccination and is licensed. It is recommended that cats be vaccinated as well; however, this is not required.

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