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So the question is, how concerned should we be about frequent encounters with rabid bats? You should know that not all bats carry rabies. Actually, only a very small portion of our local bat population is infected with the disease and those that are infected with the disease are destined to die. To coin an appropriate phrase, "A few bad apples can spoil the whole bunch."

Don't let a few sick bats send the fear of bats into your head. Keep in mind that rabies can only be detected by a laboratory test. Remember that any bat that is unable to fly or is active during the daylight hours or is found in a place where bats are not supposed to be, such as, a room in your home or on the lawn, is far more likely to be rabid than bats that exhibit normal behavior. It is always wise not to handle any bat, or any other wildlife for that matter.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) had this to say about bats and rabies; "Most of the recent human rabies cases in the United States have been caused by rabies virus from bats. Awareness of the facts about bats and rabies can help people protect themselves, their families, and their pets. This information may also help clear up misunderstandings about bats.

When people think about bats, they often imagine things that are not true. Bats are not blind. They are neither rodents nor birds. They will not suck your blood -- and most do not have rabies. Bats play key roles in ecosystems around the globe, from rain forests to deserts, especially by eating insects, including agricultural pests. The best protection we can offer these unique mammals is to learn more about their habits and recognize the value of living safely with them."

When asked "How can rabies be prevented?" CDC offered these tips:

Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. "Love your own, leave other animals alone" is a good principle for children to learn.

Wash any wound from an animal thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.

Have all dead, sick, or easily captured bats tested for rabies if exposure to people or pets occurs.

Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas where they might contact people and pets.

Be a responsible pet owner by keeping vaccinations current for all dogs, cats, and ferrets, keeping your cats and ferrets inside and your dogs under direct supervision, calling animal control to remove stray animals from your neighborhood, and consider having your pets spayed or neutered.

Remember that your chances of being bitten by your neighbor's un-vaccinated dog are much greater than the likelihood of you being bitten by a rabid bat. Ironically, dogs which are considered "man's best friend," attack and kill more humans annually, than the numbers that die from bat rabies in an entire decade.

Bats should not be feared or hated. They are a beneficial part of our ecology. Each of our insect eating bats can consume up to 2,000 mosquito-sized insect in one night. These bats are able to eat so much because they have high metabolisms and expend lots of energy in flight. I've said it before and I'll say it again; "Any animal that eats mosquitoes is a friend of mine."

As a matter of fact one of my wife's and my favorite pastimes is to take a breather from our daily work routine, just after sunset, and watch the bats emerging from their daytime roosts to begin their nightly feeding flights. And you know what? All of those evenings of bat watching and we haven't been attacked once. Are we just lucky? I don't think so. I would rather believe that the odds of us encountering a rabid bat are so minute that we needn't be concerned. But like all wild animals, they should be enjoyed at a safe distance and left alone to do what they do best. Eat insects.

For more information about bats and rabies visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at HYPERLINK "http://www.cdc.gov/RABIES/bats.html"www.cdc.gov/RABIES/bats.html and for information about living with bats go to Bat Conservation International (BCI) at HYPERLINK "http://www.batcon.org"www.batcon.org. As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome at HYPERLINK "mailto:outdrguy@avci.net" outdrguy@avci.net.