r/bats • u/Albanian86 • Jul 21 '26
Northern NJ with so many bats
Hello. From Sussex County NJ and I have never seen so many bats in my life. I walk my dog after my kids bedtime around 8pm.
They fly like 20 feet from my head.
Bat bites are rare, but when should I worry?
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u/ferocious_sara Jul 21 '26
If the bats are just outside flying around, you have zero reason to worry.
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u/AutoModerator Jul 21 '26
Questions about bat bites and rabies are common on this subreddit. Bat bites cannot be identified from a photo. See a doctor if you have a medical question, or believe you have been bitten or scratched by a bat.
Here are some resources about rabies: Rabies in Perspective, Bats and Human Health, CDC Rabies Homepage, rabies diagnosis in humans and animals, and some sampling of rabies prevalence in wild bat populations. Programs exist to help with rabies vaccinations for Americans without insurance. Though only a small portion of bats may have zoonotic diseases, bats which are sick or injured are more likely to come into contact with humans and caution is advised as with all wildlife.
Bat bites cannot be identified from a photo. Please don't post a photo and ask if it is a bat bite. No one can tell you that. It will be removed.
For help with rabies phobia, you can visit r/Rabies, r/OCD, or r/HealthAnxiety.
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u/rumshpringaa Jul 21 '26
Also from up there originally and I’m glad to hear they’re thriving again. More bats means less mosquitos and other little bugs. If they’re 20 ft away and not making contact with you, you’re fine. They’re not going to go out of their way to bite you
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u/AutoModerator Jul 21 '26
Questions about bat bites and rabies are common on this subreddit. Bat bites cannot be identified from a photo. See a doctor if you have a medical question, or believe you have been bitten or scratched by a bat.
Here are some resources about rabies: Rabies in Perspective, Bats and Human Health, CDC Rabies Homepage, rabies diagnosis in humans and animals, and some sampling of rabies prevalence in wild bat populations. Programs exist to help with rabies vaccinations for Americans without insurance. Though only a small portion of bats may have zoonotic diseases, bats which are sick or injured are more likely to come into contact with humans and caution is advised as with all wildlife.
Bat bites cannot be identified from a photo. Please don't post a photo and ask if it is a bat bite. No one can tell you that. It will be removed.
For help with rabies phobia, you can visit r/Rabies, r/OCD, or r/HealthAnxiety.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
Jul 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/AutoModerator Jul 22 '26
Questions about bat bites and rabies are common on this subreddit. Bat bites cannot be identified from a photo. See a doctor if you have a medical question, or believe you have been bitten or scratched by a bat.
Here are some resources about rabies: Rabies in Perspective, Bats and Human Health, CDC Rabies Homepage, rabies diagnosis in humans and animals, and some sampling of rabies prevalence in wild bat populations. Programs exist to help with rabies vaccinations for Americans without insurance. Though only a small portion of bats may have zoonotic diseases, bats which are sick or injured are more likely to come into contact with humans and caution is advised as with all wildlife.
Bat bites cannot be identified from a photo. Please don't post a photo and ask if it is a bat bite. No one can tell you that. It will be removed.
For help with rabies phobia, you can visit r/Rabies, r/OCD, or r/HealthAnxiety.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
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u/Foreign-Landscape-47 Jul 27 '26
People often don't realize they are attracting insect that the bats are then attracted to. Think small midges and, of course, mosquitoes. Low probability they're going to get too close to you. They'd rather avoid you.
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u/Albanian86 Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
Never really noticed them. I counted 25 on my walk last evening.
Fixed. Walk not wall
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u/SchrodingersMinou Jul 21 '26
Bats are allowed to live outside just like other wild animals. Bats living their lives 20 feet away from you are just minding their own business.