Do all bats carry rabies?

One of the most well-known facts about bats is that they are rather notorious carriers and spreaders of a wide array of diseases. In recent times, the most obvious and well-known example is that of Covid-19, which shook the world to its core in 2020 and continues to do so even today. 

However, before Covid was a thing, bats were largely blamed for another illness, namely rabies. But are all bats infected, and can they further infect others? In this article, we set out to answer this question once and for all, accurately. 

First of all, why does this matter?

The reason why you should care about the diseases a bat can carry is that it is not at all uncommon to wake up one day to discover that you've got a bat living on your property. Bats prefer human dwellings (particularly cool, remote spaces such as attics and basements) because they provide the two things that they most need: shelter and food. An attic can allow bats to remain concealed and fairly safe from other, larger predators, and is also a good source of food (which, for a bat, mainly consist of insects, spiders, bugs, and so on). 

Bats are generally non-aggressive toward humans, largely because humans are many times bigger than them and thus, quite a terrifying predator. However, a bat will usually shed its inhibitions and even become rather aggressive towards a human being if its mind is addled by rabies. 

If you, a family member, or a pet are attacked by an infected bat and fail to receive treatment in time, the disease can prove fatal, so it's important to understand how these things work.

Do all bats have rabies?

No, the answer is that only a very small percentage of bats actually have rabies. So no, just because you had a bat living inside your attic doesn't mean you or your loved ones were exposed to this fatal disease. However, it is always a good idea to send the captured/dead bat for rabies testing, so that you know to seek emergency medical assistance if you suspect you've been exposed to the illness.

How can you tell if a bat has rabies?

Some people mistakenly believe that they can "spot" rabies in an animal by simply looking at it. A highly popular theory says that if an animal is frothing at the mouth, then it must be infected with rabies. And this is true, because the virus impacts the animal's central nervous system, and makes it incapable of swallowing its own saliva. 

However, not all rabid animals will foam at the mouth, especially not in the early stages of the disease. So don't make the mistake of assuming that is the only symptom to look out for, and keep an eye out for other common signs that a bat is rabid, such as:

• Flying around in daytime - if a bat is seen out in the open during daylight hours, this may be a good sign it is sick.
  
  
• Aggressive behavior towards humans - again, it is in a bat's nature to be reclusive and shy around humans.
  
  
• Found in an unusual spot - it's not considered common to find a bat on your front lawn, so its presence there may indicate a malfunction inside its brain.
  
  
• Unusual flying patterns - if the animal seems to have great difficulty flying, or does so in unusual patterns, it may again be a sign that it's infected.
  
  

What can you do?

While rabies in humans is rare, bats are the number one cause for it, so you'll want to avoid and isolate, if possible, the rabid animal. Call in a professional wildlife removal team, informing them of your suspicions, and after the problem has been dealt with, seek immediate medical aid if you fear you may have been exposed.