Beware of bat risks

Editor's Insight: The viewpoints expressed in the editorials are the perspectives of the Star Tribune Editorial Board and are independent of the news branch.
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Previously regarded as terrifying pests or even characters in fictional horror stories, bats are now acknowledged for their significant contributions to our ecosystem. Their notable feat is their appetite for insects, as estimated by the National Park Service - bats offer pest control services in the US that are worth more than $3.7 billion annually. Plus, they play a crucial role in sustaining cave ecosystems.
The shift in our perspectives towards these nocturnal animals is well demonstrated in a heartwarming Star Tribune piece on a bat rescue, which concluded the year 2023. Nonetheless, Mike Osterholm, a renowned infectious disease expert, reminds us of the importance of exercising caution towards these creatures.
Mark Fischer discovered a colony of hibernating brown bats while adding insulation to an attic in a Miltona, Minn. lake house. Instead of merely disturbing their peaceful sleep, Fischer conscientiously transported these bats to a wildlife rehab center in Roseville. Despite praising the rescue as "remarkable," Osterholm highlights that these creatures can carry rabies, a potentially deadly viral ailment. He points out that their bites can go unnoticed by humans, expressing his worry that the general public may interpret from the rescue story that bats are safe to be handled without expertise to prevent their bites.
In fact, most cases of rabies in the U.S. occur due to exposure to bats— accounting for 70% of the 89 cases from 1960 to 2018. Furthermore, as per an analysis by a state Health Department, 3.6% of bats tested positive for rabies in Minnesota from 2003 to 2020. Therefore, health officials advise that anyone who wakes up to a bat, especially small children and vulnerable adults, or has physical contact with a bat, should capture the bat for rabies testing.
A rabies vaccine is available for humans and should be administered promptly after potential exposure, rather than as a routine immunization, as per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The importance of timely action is stressed by the agency, as "once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal."
Osterholm warns future bat rescuers and all Minnesotans about the risks posed by handling these flying mammals without proper training and protection. Additional information about rabies and bats, including a video demonstrating correct methods to capture a bat, can be found on the Health Department's website at tinyurl.com/MDHRabiesInfo.