Things not to do with a dead bat

[Malleus_Incus_Stapes]

@Broomstick

I believe that, at least in some parts of the US, it is legal to purchase and own a flying fox as a pet. Those are a type of fruit-eating bat from Asia, they’re actually pretty big for bats. If you are seriously interested in a bat pet you might want to look into one of those.

I was under the impression that the goverment was paranoid about fruit bats going wild and eating crops.

[Broomstick]

My local DNR is “paranoid” that someone released a 3 foot long alligator or crocodile into Pine Lake recently - there have been several spottings by reliable, non-drunk folks. My point being that these days fear that foreign species might establish a foothold or damage the local ecology isn’t “paranoid”, it’s arguably something governments should be concerned about. There have been similar concerns voiced about ferrets, snakes, and other critters yet there are still many places where it is legal to own them as pets.

[Race_Harley]

I’m still wondering what made the mother think it was OK to take the bat to a school for ‘Show & Tell’ (and obviously ‘Touch’). Is this something people do with dead animals? Maybe its me… :smack:

[KarlGrenze]

@romansperson

In our county, only unvaccinated animals are required to be quarantined for six months. Most people choose to have their unvaccinated pets put down instead - it’s expensive to quarantine. Which is one more reason why allowing your pets to go unvaccinated is so damn dumb. If your pet gets in a fight with a raccoon, for instance, and the raccoon runs away, there’s no way to know for sure whether the pet was actually exposed, so you could be putting a healthy animal down.

Vaccinated animals who have come in contact with a potentially rabid animal are required to get a booster shot within 72 hours of the exposure. They are also supposed to be observed for 10 days, which can be done at home.

In our location, if you have the animal your pet came in contact with, Animal Control will send it to the state lab for testing if it is one of the species known to be a rabies vector here (bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes). If there’s any chance of human exposure, you’ll get a call from a nurse from the CDC advising you on whether you should get prophylactic shots or not.

I’d guess it varies by county, but the general regulation I was taught was unvaccinated animals exposed to rabies (via a fight, for example), get either the euthanasia or 6 months quarantine, with a shot given one month before release.

Vaccinated animals who are exposed get a 45 days quarantine after receiving a booster vaccine.

Animals that bite humans get either the euthanasia solution or a 10 day quarantine. Reason being, if they’re biting because of rabies, they’re already showing signs and if they’re sick they’ll die within that period (and be tested for rabies).

Whoever had the cat bring a bat: If you’re concerned, you could call a vet. Maybe they can ship the bat to a lab to have it tested for rabies.

[billfish678]

@Malleus_Incus_Stapes

I was under the impression that the goverment was paranoid about fruit bats **going wild **and eating crops.

But as a bat lover the spring break videos would make it all worth it to me

[Malthus]

@MoodIndigo1

I read that the lifespan of a bat in the wild is about 20 years. It’s about a year in captivity.

ETA: a flying fox has a wingspan of about 7 feet. Not the easiest to accommodate pet.

This particular pet bat lived 9 years or so.

I’m somewhat doubtful if little brown bats in the wild have an average lifespan of 20 years: I know that the can live for a very long time - up to 30 years or so - but they are at high risk of dying during their winter hibernation and when they are young.

I agree that a flying fox is pretty large for a pet.

[The_Weird_One]

@Malthus

It had a bit of a drawback, in that she found that people were more interested in her pet then in her. Getting known as “that girl with the bat”, being invited places & told to bring the pet, etc. can get old.

Also, bats cannot be toilet trained. Feeding 'em was no prob, it ate crickets and mealie worms (both easily purchased at pet stores).

What did she do about the no-toilet-training issue? I’m picturing a bat flying around with a little white diaper…

[Malthus]

@The_Weird_One

What did she do about the no-toilet-training issue? I’m picturing a bat flying around with a little white diaper…

It mostly lived in a sock, where it did its business. Otherwise, simply collect the pellets when seen.

[DocCathode]

@MoodIndigo1

I read that the lifespan of a bat in the wild is about 20 years. It’s about a year in captivity.

You have a cite for that claim?

[monstro]

I’d just like to brag a moment and tell everyone that my sis (yes, that one) was the CDC official who led the investigation for this case and wrote the article in the MMWR. Lemme tell you, the stories she has about that town will make you glad you don’t live there.

I hope I haven’t embarrassed her too much, but I’m just too proud to keep quiet about it!

[KRC]

When I was in Girl Scouts it wasn’t unusual for bats to take up residence in the tents at the camp. The girls named one of them Bert the Bat and he was a rather cute little fellow, with his mouselike face and perky ears. Nobody ever vaccinated us against rabies. Possibly they should have, as a few years later I developed an inexplicable fondness for Ozzie.

However this was in Kentucky in the 70’s and the state was spending what little money it had to treat elderly coal miners with black lung. Next to that rabid girl scouts didn’t seem like a problem.

Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?