A bat captured inside of a home on Tommys Lane on Aug. 1 has tested positive for rabies at the state Laboratory, according to officials in the Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department. The residents were advised to seek medical advice while their dog received a rabies booster and is being observed for 45 days.
Since July 1, residents reported finding a total of six bats— five of which tested negative, according to Officer Allyson Halm. Five were found in bedrooms, while one was spotted outside within the vicinity of the family’s dog.
Bats are active at dusk and can enter a home by following insects—often without being detected, according to Halm. To prevent the spread of rabies to humans and domestic pets, as well as to protect the bats themselves, she said it’s important to secure the chimneys and flue, and keep windows and doors closed at night.
“Bats are extremely important to our environment because of the amount of insects they consume,” Halm said.
By law, she added, domestic pets must always be kept up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.
Because Animal Control does not remove live bats from residents’ homes, residents must contact a nuisance wildlife control operator who will secure and euthanize the bat for a fee. Animal Control will then prepare the animal for transport for the state laboratory.