Sick bats may soon be returning to their summer homes, and state wildlife officials are asking people to use caution if they encounter one of the animals.
Many bats have been infected with a mysterious disease called white nose syndrome. Hundreds of thousands have died in caves. The illness often causes bats to exhibit unusual behavior like flying in the daytime or flopping on the ground. Frequently, people assume the bats are rabid and kill them.
Wildlife Biologist Scott Darling says there’s no evidence that white nose syndrome can be transmitted to humans or pets. But Darling says people should either stay away from dead or dying bats, or wear gloves to remove them because a small percentage could be rabid.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking anyone who sees any unusual bat behavior, to contact them.