Bye bye little Bat

[Catherine]

Quote:I think bats are possibly unpopular because of the risk of Rabies from a bite. People have become a bit scared of Bats.

I know that is more common in the US (and Canada?) and also in Europe, than it is in the UK.

Right now our rabies risk is low and there are ways of treating an infected person if they get medical help right away.
There is a small outbreak of Raccoon rabies south of where I am and they are handling it by vaccinating raccoons. There was some skunk rabies a number of years ago out on the prairies. I haven't heard of any bat rabies in recent years.

I can understand the fear of rabies, but it is treatable and the animals can be vaccinated to stop and outbreak.

Actually people have disliked bats for a long time and  bats are not the only source of rabies transmission.

This is a good article about rabies.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...KQU7Q---Ug

I think the odds of dying of rabies are very slight even in countries that have rabies. Our fear of it is very intense. There is no balance there. It is like fear of snake bite and shark attack. The fear is greater than the actual risk. More people die of drowning and lightening strikes. I am in far more danger of being hit by a car while crossing the street with a green light in my favour.

So sad that little Harry Bat didn't survive. I hope somehow that the other bats know what you did for him. Too few people will stop to help a bat.
I don't know about your bats, but our little guys eat a ton of mosquitoes and the mosquitos can carry West Nile Virus. So they help to protect us each summer.