Bats are common in nature and may be seen on campus, especially during the later summer and early fall. The capture and removal of a bat at the University must only be performed by trained Facilities Services staff. If a bat is present in you room, work area or any location on campus that presents a risk for human contact, notify the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at 315.443.2224. Do not attempt to capture the bat yourself.
It is important to avoid contact with a bat, since some bats have rabies. Rabies is a fatal disease that can be passed on to humans through contact with an infected bat. If you suspect that you or someone else may have had any contact with a bat at the University, immediately contact DPS at 315.443.2224 and the Barnes Center (Health Services) at 315.443.8000. Health Services will perform an exposure assessment and determine if further treatment and a rabies vaccination is needed.
Trained Facilities Services staff must follow the University’s bat capture protocol when capturing and removing bats at the University.
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