This is the time of year when bats start showing up in people’s houses. This can be not only an unsettling experience; it also can pose a serious health risk.

Bats are primary carriers of rabies, and bat bites are often hard to detect.  Finding a bat in a bedroom in the morning raises the concern that someone may have been bitten by the bat while they were sleeping. Since exposure to rabies can be deadly, it is important to do everything possible to assess this risk; and that might mean suppressing your first impulse. 

“Your instincts will probably tell you to get the live bat out...