Environmental Health & Safety
Information on Bats
Bats are beneficial creatures who are a vital part of a thriving ecosystem. A bat inside a structure, though, is an emergency that must be dealt with quickly and appropriately. This is due to the threat of rabies.
The vast majority of bats are not rabid. However, it is impossible to tell from visual inspection whether a given bat is rabid. Therefore, all bats found indoors must be reported to Pest Control by telephone immediately. Call 275-3241 Monday-Friday during business hours, or call Public Safety after hours at 275-3333.
DO NOT attempt to capture the bat yourself. If it flies into an unoccupied room with no other exits, close the door to trap it inside. DO NOT open a door or window to release it to the outdoors until you have spoken to Pest Control.
Once Pest Control captures the bat, they will interview you to determine whether there has been human contact with the bat. If they determine that there was human contact, they will pass the bat along to the Monroe County Department of Public Health for testing.
If you handle a bat, or a bat touches you, or you wake in a room with a bat flying around, you are considered to have made contact with the bat. Call Pest Control in any of these situations, even if the bat can no longer be found or has been released to the outdoors.
Like all wild animals, bats play an important role in our world, and should not be feared but respected, treated with caution, and handled as little as possible.
QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?
Contact EH&S at (585) 275-3241 or e-mail EH&S Questions.
This page last updated 7/15/2026. Disclaimer.