Resources
General Information
- Bats of the United States – Wikipedia
- North American Bat Ranges – USGS
- Animal Diversity Web – ADW
- Bat Conservation International – BCI
- NC State Parks – Mammals of North Carolina
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources – Bats
How to Help Bats!
- Install a bat house
- Tips for making bat boxes safer for bats – Wild Life (illinois.edu)
- Plant native plants
- Avoid using herbicides and insecticides
- Leave dead or dying trees if they are not a hazard
- Volunteer! Contact Olivia.Munzer@ncwildlife.org
Unwanted Bats?
Click here for more information on unwanted bats in your home or contact the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401.
Sick or Injured Bats
Never directly handle a sick or injured bat. Although bats can be sick or disoriented for other reasons than rabies, we recommend taking precautions. We recommend contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator that specializes in rabies vector species, such as bats. You can also call the NC Wildlife Helpline (866-318-2401) for guidance on what to do with the sick or injured bat.
Bat Activities During COVID-19
Currently, activities requiring direct contact with bats should follow Covid-19 protocols. See the following protocols:
2021 NCWRC Protocols for Bat Handling Surveys During COVID-19 Pandemic
2021 NCWRC Protocols for Bat Rehabilitation During COVID-19 Pandemic
For more information, please contact Katherine Etchison, NCWRC Mammalogist, at 828-545-8328 or katherine.etchison@ncwildlife.org.
Bat Conservation International’s FAQ on Bats, Coronoviruses, and Zoonotic Diseases
Video on bat immune systems and zoonotic diseases: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ2jDPgvbTY
