Worldwide, bats are important to human health and the economy. They consume large numbers of harmful insects, which damage crops and spread disease. Bats pollinate plants and disperse seeds needed for for forest regrowth - more than 450 commercial products come from plants that need bats for pollination or seed dispersal. Yet, bats are among the world's most endangered animals, suffering from habitat loss and environmental pollution.

Due to concerns over rabies, public health and wildlife agencies have begun to regulate the possession, exhibition, rehabilitation, and interstate movement of native U.S. bats more closely. Legitimate researchers, educators, and wildlife rehabilitators, each of whom contribute to bat conservation, need to be attentive to these concerns and to address them when proposing to possess bats for exhibition, rehabilitation, or research.

In a first attempt to face these concerns Basically Bats Wildlife Conservation Society hosted a discussion at Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, on 21 May 1997. The following guidelines for indigenous bats were developed by the participating attendees representing public-health, research, education and wildlife rehabilitation interests. Federal and state agencies may have existing requirements or regulations that exceed these suggestions.

Only researchers, educators, conservationists, or animal rehabilitators with current permits should be allowed to possess, exhibit or transport bats, and they should:

1. provide documentation* of training sufficient for species likely to be handled.
2. provide documentation* of rabies pre-exposure vaccination prior to receiving a permit, and evidence of continued immunization status during permit renewal at no more than 2-year intervals.

* Upon request, documentation should be made available to permitting authorities.

What are the responsibilities of wildlife rehabilitators?

Wildlife rehabilitators permitted to work with bats should:

1. house bats in caging appropriate for the species.
2. isolate all bats that are intended for release as individuals (or in arrival groups).
3. not exhibit bats held as part of a rehabilitation program.
4. suggest that members of the public who find sick bats seek appropriate medical counsel concerning potential rabies exposure.

Educators should:

1. not exhibit bats in wildlife programs that are also on permanent display to the public.
2. not allow human contact with exhibit animals, or display them in a manner that may encourage people to want to handle them.
3. quarantine for life any bats used in education that cannot be released.

Bat workers should:

1. know and follow federal, state and local public-health and wildlife regulations.
2. only allow persons vaccinated against rabies to contact bats.
3. provide proper double-enclosed caging and clear identification of contents during commercial transport.

A Homeowner's Guide to Northeastern Bat Problems by Lisa M. Williams-Whitmer and Margaret C. Brittingham. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. 1995.

Americas's Neighborhood Bats by Merlin D. Tuttle, University of Texas Press, Austin, TX. 1988.

Bats in Captivity by Susan M. Barnard, Wild Ones Animal Books, Half Moon Bay, CA. 1995.

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, HHS Pub. No. (CDC) 93-8395, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 1993.

Ecological and Behavioral Methods for the Study of Bats by Thomas H. Kunz (Ed.), Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 1988.

Pocket Guide to the Humane Control of Wildlife in Cities & Towns by Guy R. Hodge (Ed.), Falcon Press, Helena, MT. 1991.

Rabies in Bats: Natural History and Public Health Implications by Danny A. Brass, Livia Press, Ridgefield, CT. 1994.

Rabies, Lyme Disease, Hanta Virus and Other Animal-Borne Human Diseases in the United States & Canada by E. Lendell Cockrum, Fisher Books, Tucson, AZ. 1997.

Understanding Bats by Kim Williams and Rob Mies, Bird Watcher's Digest Press, Pardson Corp., Marietta, OH. 1996.

a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to wildlife conservation and education
106 Spooner Road, Hawthorne, FL  32640 (352) 481-2913

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Page last updated 09 December 2006