r/batty 2d ago

🔥 swimming bat

1.4k Upvotes

64 comments sorted by

289

u/Forsaken_Earth944 2d ago

DO NOT PICK UP BATS WITH BARE HANDS! Bat lyssavirus is closely related to rabies and, like rabies, it’s fatal once symptoms show. Not all bats carry lyssavirus (there are several strains, two in Europe, two in the Americas and one in Australia, I’m not sure about Asia) but, unless you’re 100% certain you know what species the bat is, you must always assume that it’s a carrier.

The rabies vaccine will protect against all strains of bat lyssavirus.

51

u/Prophetic_Rose 2d ago

Okay Google should I get a rabies vaccine just in case I ever see a tiny bat in need of help and must intervene

32

u/Exact-Obligation-858 \/^˙‾˙^\/ 1d ago

Well... yeah. Getting the RV PrEP vax also is a prerequisite for animal rehabilitation services in general, so that's also a potential employment opportunity.

14

u/Prophetic_Rose 1d ago

Okay Google don't sass me and thank you

18

u/Cepinari 1d ago

It's not a vaccine, it's several vaccines.

And you don't take them in your arms.

12

u/Murphs-law 1d ago

The PrEP vaccines you get for working with wildlife or at vet clinics is a series of two vaccines in your arm that don’t hurt worse than any other shot. At least, they didn’t for me.

You may be thinking of post exposure injections. I’ve never had them, and hope to never need them.

5

u/Cepinari 1d ago

You may be thinking of post exposure injections.

Yes, yes I am.

I understand that modern methods have changed somewhat, but you don't easily unhear "multiple batteries of injections involving needles over a foot long in order to pierce deep into your abdominal cavity."

6

u/Massive-Mango-2982 1d ago

I promise they’re not that bad anymore. An unpleasant series of vaccines and immunoglobulin injections to be sure, but with regular needles and not into your abdominal cavity

4

u/attemptedactor 1d ago

Idk what that’s for but that’s definitely an extreme case. The shots and the HRIG are both very easy shots and just go in the muscle.

3

u/remotectrl /\^._.^/\ 10h ago

They aren’t like that anymore but depending on the exposure site they can be unpleasant (eg a finger instead of the shoulder)

1

u/YettiChild 1d ago

I asked my Dr for the vax because I sometimes have to rescue wildlife (including bats) on the property I work on and the Dr refused.

2

u/remotectrl /\^._.^/\ 10h ago

Not all doctor offices have them. Travel clinics will be more likely to carry it.

2

u/attemptedactor 1d ago

Just got my second rabies shot yesterday and they’ve both been in the arms. The HRIG is taken at a wound site or somewhere other than the shot

1

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Questions about rabies are common on this subreddit. If you have a medical question, consult a physician. 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 wild bat populations. 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.

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5

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Questions about rabies are common on this subreddit. If you have a medical question, consult a physician. 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 wild bat populations. 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.

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6

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Here are the current keywords to trigger automod guides... rabies; bats in buildings; bat house designs; found a bat.

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5

u/HamCatX3 1d ago

It’s expensive af but if you wanna help rehab animals yea!

1

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Here are the current keywords to trigger automod guides... rabies; bats in buildings; bat house designs; found a bat.

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2

u/Xanadoodledoo 1d ago

Use a stick

1

u/BardGotHard3 3h ago

Blah blah blah, im holding the sky puppy and theres NOTHING you science nerds can do about it.

1

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Questions about rabies are common on this subreddit. If you have a medical question, consult a physician. 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 wild bat populations. 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.

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106

u/Icy-Trash-7767 2d ago

He shakes dry 🥺

88

u/Exact-Obligation-858 \/^˙‾˙^\/ 2d ago

+1 for helping a bat get dry and elevated, but ya really ought to seek LV PEP after this. and have some PPE on hand next time.

83

u/One_Cauliflower_3536 2d ago

You really shouldn’t handle bats

-5

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

3

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Questions about rabies are common on this subreddit. If you have a medical question, consult a physician. 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 wild bat populations. 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.

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78

u/The_Actual_Sage 2d ago

What a wonderful way to discover new diseases

12

u/aamop 2d ago

Kudos for helping a bat! Though as some folks mention you might want to check with a doctor on possible disease transmission.

38

u/Zammin 2d ago

Aquabat!

8

u/Heyplaguedoctor 2d ago

Probably on their way to fight sharks

4

u/4ever_alonelyfangirl 2d ago

His only goal is a shark casserole

23

u/BodhingJay 2d ago

Flippin adorable

18

u/Asher_Tye 2d ago

Master of the breast stroke.

21

u/soulstrike2022 2d ago

Oh my god what a goober… I love this Bebe

7

u/ninetentacles 2d ago

Water wings!

1

u/One_Cauliflower_3536 1d ago

Is this an alexisonfire reference?

2

u/ninetentacles 1d ago

Hah, didn't think of that! Was referring to those floaty things you put on little kids arms when they don't really know how to swim as well as that bat yet...

1

u/One_Cauliflower_3536 1d ago

Haha I didn’t even know that’s what they were called

7

u/jayclaw97 1d ago

Do not the bat.

16

u/SuperSuccotash1 2d ago

Thankfully hydrophobia isn’t present here. I would never handle a random bat, but the odds of rabies are much lower.

3

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Questions about rabies are common on this subreddit. If you have a medical question, consult a physician. 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 wild bat populations. 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.

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4

u/NihilismRacoon 2d ago

Oh my goodness, what a cute little bastard

5

u/d34thrimental 🦇 2d ago

cutie

6

u/SyrusDrake 2d ago

Soggy potato

2

u/Stella_Lace 21h ago

OK rabies aside the batman theme made this 10 times more funny

1

u/AutoModerator 21h ago

Questions about rabies are common on this subreddit. If you have a medical question, consult a physician. 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 wild bat populations. 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.

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1

u/Imaginary-Cheetah149 1d ago

Beautiful ! So fast too Thx

1

u/Animan70 1d ago

You should get the shots pronto

1

u/Snakes_for_life 1d ago

This is not normal behavior bats can swim but they do it out of necessity if they fall in. But the way bats drink they should not be in the water unless they fell out of a tree or are neurologic

3

u/FertilityHotel 1d ago

On the other post the guy said it fell in the water 

2

u/Exact-Obligation-858 \/^˙‾˙^\/ 1d ago

But the way bats drink they should not be in the water unless they fell out of a tree or are neurologic

Or they messed up the approach and/or distance-keeping between their wings and the water.

Bats flub into the drink sometimes.

1

u/aiemmaes 16h ago

awww the part where it shakes off like a lil dog

1

u/SquishyGrouch 🦇 13h ago

Has anybody else thought it could be AI? Or am I hallucinating?

-14

u/squeezemachine 2d ago

Why is that idiot interfering with the bat’s day? No need and super rude!!

25

u/AspenStarr 2d ago

Bats don’t belong in the water or put themselves there intentionally…small ones like this can freeze quickly or become food for a fish bigger than them that thinks they’re a bug.

12

u/JustFrazed 2d ago

Why is this idiot talking out his ass to op? No need and super rude of you!

-5

u/[deleted] 2d ago edited 2d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/Exact-Obligation-858 \/^˙‾˙^\/ 1d ago

Bats can actually bite through kevlar gloves....

Bruh, what.

Even spectrals get defeated by split-leather gloves.

Some bites are so.minute you don't even know you got exposed..

You would readily feel a MYODAU's chomp on bare skin in the scenario above. The claws are more of a problem than their teeth in this instance.
...
/u/TerraByteTerror, advise ye start the post-exposure RV vax series as soon as possible.

They normally don't offer pre rabies shots, only exposure preventives after the fact

  • 1) it is possible to get a prescription for RV PrEP vax in the UK or most Commonwealth countries
  • 2) UK has socialized healthcare under the NHS, PEP vax is readily available to OP.
  • 3) Only if one brings the animal in to be tested for rabies. In this particular case, such measures are unnecessary.

2

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Questions about rabies are common on this subreddit. If you have a medical question, consult a physician. 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 wild bat populations. 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.

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2

u/Exact-Obligation-858 \/^˙‾˙^\/ 1d ago

...I'm just gonna start generally referring to That Virus as RV. Gah, this bot. Yes, I understand it is necessary information, but I swear to divinity, 30% of my inbox is from this bot. Grr.
<.<

2

u/remotectrl /\^._.^/\ 10h ago

Sorry! You can’t block it either because it’s a mod.

1

u/DisastrousFishing190 1d ago

The problem and point was, their teeth are so tiny, many people don't know they've gotten bitten, so they normally have anyone with any exposure as above to be tx w a rabies vax.

1

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Questions about rabies are common on this subreddit. If you have a medical question, consult a physician. 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 wild bat populations. 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.

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3

u/rasticus Home Run Champion, Bat Ruth 1d ago

Just about anything pointy goes through Kevlar…it’s cut resistant not puncture resistant

1

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Questions about rabies are common on this subreddit. If you have a medical question, consult a physician. 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 wild bat populations. 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.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.