Coming home late one evening last week, I looked up to see an odd bird in the sky. It took me a moment to realize that it wasn’t a bird. It was in fact a bat — just in time for Halloween!
Bats can be seen taking flight just before the sun sets throughout El Paso until mid-October or early November. Currently, the bats are migrating to Mexico for the winter.
Each year during the summer months, and as the bats migrate, El Pasoans report finding bats in or near their homes or businesses. The bats don’t usually attack people, but if you find one, don’t touch it. It might have rabies.
Recently, the Texas Department of Public Health reported that 16 rabid bats had been captured in El Paso.
The Department of Public Health has issued some tips for you to follow to stay safe:
- Teach your children to never handle bats or other unknown animals, even if the animal is friendly.
- Keep your pet’s vaccinations current. If you think your pet has been bitten by a bat, contact a veterinarian or Animal Services. The Humane Society of El Paso provides an online list of local veterinarians.
- If a bat has entered your home or business, leave it alone. If possible, confine it to an empty room and call Animal Services.
- If you have been exposed, seek medical advice. If you were bitten, clean the wound with soap and water and get medical attention.
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