In Pullman. They can test for rabies and for a fungus that is devastating bat colonies throughout the country.

https://waddl.vetmed.wsu.edu/

If money is a problem, Ask public health if they do rabies for free and send to them.

Game and fish should be interested if more bats die.

rabies testing can be conducted. DO NOT throw them out in the woods where other animals could become infected through scavaging! You may well be propagating the disease if it is rabies. Wear gloves and bag the animal carcass in two layers of plastic and place on ice in a cooler until Public Health can get animal control or another official to collect it.

Do it ASAP.

ours is out of our sheriffs dept.

Plug up the hole in your roof. At night, when they're out.

..do that later in the year.

enjoying a portion of your house under the roof, you could have a large pile of guano up there that can end up being a major health hazard for your family. Best to call the bat people and see about getting that part of th roof closed up. Also, follow advice given above regarding the actual sick ones and find out what they suggest.

I managed a property a few years ago that had bats dying on the sidewalks so I called the bat people in my area. They came out and did some things to the roof and installed a vent that allowed them to get out but not back in. The problem was resolved in a day or two.

..also after the pups are weaned.

they might be ingesting something else that has. I don't know about the dietary preferences of the fruit bat, but if they eat mosquitoes or other insects that have been poisoned by aerial spraying, that might be part of the problem.

..and there have been fewer skeeters too! Thank goodness!

Last edited Tue Jul 28, 2020, 06:35 AM - Edit history (1)

My neighbor didnt kill the first one like i thought.. he just tossed it into the woods with a shovel. I was relieved..i dont like killing animals and after all these bats have been part of our environment for as long as we have lived here.

Next day hubbys in the yard and by gum theres another one alive, floundering in the yard right near where the other one was relocated. Hubby again tossed it into the woods. NOW I'm thinking that was the same bat..crippled but crawling back ...to her pups?

Then major guilt set it.

I went on line and searched all I could about ill bats etc and rabies is the very last thing discussed as a reason for sick animals. I knew about the bat White Nose Syndrome but I always thought it effected them in the winter and Ive never seen dead ones in the snow..and its relatively rare in the west. But the map of verified cases included my county....the only county in wash state! There was a form on line to report suspected cases so I filled that out. And...even if a bat recovers, there can be lasting effects such as..weakness and inability to fly! Its like bat Covid. Im thinking this may be the end of the colony

Im using this as an opportunity to learn more about the animals and I would like to talk to our local wildlife rehab vet on the best way to handle one if I find them again. I contacted a bat rehab on the west side of the State so hopefully they will have some info I can use.

Now is also the time to get that bat house hung. We bought it about 15 yrs ago and it still sits in the garage. Hubby couldnt make up his mind where to hang it so the poop wouldnt be by the house..well now its IN the house.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU all who offered advice...this was the first place i posted my dilemma as I knew rural folks will have an idea what I was dealing with. You guys are the best..

* another update! the wash state dept of wild life is sending out a biologist to study my colony and determine how many and of what kind. AND a bat rehab on the west side of the state called response to my email to them and she gave me some helpful info. as well