One of you technicians went to a bat call where the roofers have apparently locked all the bats in with a new roof. A bat got into a two year old kids bedroom and the there was blood on the kid's pillow and he was playing with the dead bat. THE FOLKS ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.

This is a rental property and is not our job yet so we have no responsibility, but I can't go to bed tonight thinking about this. I suggested to my wife that she report the whole thing to the health department as soon as it opens tomorrow. Anyone got any other input? ( It is way too late to recommend sterilization of the parents )

I would suggest that YOU call and make sure that your tech does too.

Wasnt me

Paul, PM me the details and I'll make the call.

The gal that we deal with from the health department has been here to pick up bats for testing and we all really liked her. ( It was hard to believe she had a government job ) I would prefer talking to her in the morning.

Might want to mention to them that the law might consider it child neglect if the bat was sick and they did nothing. If that happens they'll certainly tell the lawyer that you didn't inform them of the dangers. Better document that you insisted they contact health dept...make that call yourself, just to clear yourself of liability. I don't let the customers handle the bat turnover with the health dept. I do it myself, that way I know the bat got there and that the specimen was euthanized properly and kept cool so the brain can be tested.

All a guy can do is recommend what they should do. If we wanted to be cops, or social workers, we all could have gone to tech school and become government stooges. (As for me, 15 years of govt.service was enough)I probably would have recommended it on the receipt, and had them sign it. After then its up to them.

Kevin, last year I did an inspection/ER in which two bats were taken alive. Put the bats in a coffee can, double-taped the lid, wrote 'LIVE BAT' on the lid, put 'em in the fridge, told the customer to bring to Health Dept. next working day. Next thing I know (about three days later), customers "adult" son had taken the bats outside to "check on them." They escaped.
Lesson learned: all bats caught where there is exposure risk go with me for testing.

Was talking to the neighbor at an inspection yesterday, asked her if she'd ever seen bats. She replied she'd had two in the house earlier this year. I told her she should get the place bat-proofed. She said, "Nawww...there was only two of them."

That would be a fine attitude for dealing with adults. But any responsible person, regardless of line of work, will report to authorities when the adults who should take action to protect a child, don't.

Probably 90% of the people on this forum would consider it none of the gub'mint's business if they were the parents in question.

I would make sure that bat gets tested

I believe 99 + per cent of the people on this forum would be responsible enough parents to either have the bat in question tested if found, or start post exposure rabies treatment on the child .

I should have phrased that better, it was the ADC forum I was referencing when making that statement.

If by forum you mean the ADC group then I would agree. If you meant the entire "trapperman" forum then I would say not a chance. lol

X2, big difference between we that work with zoonotics and the average country trapper.

So did any call County Board of Health??

As much as folks don't want folks meddling in their child rearing, this is one of those times that you know these folks aren't doing a good
job of it. Good grief, one thing if the bat was just in the room, but blood and child right there, come on, can't believe your not making this up!

Would have called the DOH.

My son called the parents and explained the whole thing to them and felt that they would do the right thing. My wife called the health department for a follow-up.

Those of you that felt this was none of our business, are probably right.

Those of you that thought that we would never let this pass, are also right.

My kid got attacked by a Red Fox I took the fox skull into be checked for rabbies . Lady flipped out wanted to know where the rest of the fox was I said on a stretcher and all you need is its brain right . I guess people don't normally help them out like we did. For a lady that kills puppy's and kittens for living for county animal control I didn't think it would have been so shocking for her .

Around here you can call the local Heath Officer and they can send the bat out to be tested by the Health Department at no cost.
Any animal bite is filed at the Town Clerks Office for recording.

That is what we do, I have sent many animals to be tested when human contact is suspected. Like Peskycritter said, part of it any way.
Dave

Dave, it's pretty much the same here.

Pesky, the lady you met probably doesn't even know that most of the animals are doomed. ( It's hard to keep volunteers that know )