A Dutchess County department says there has been a sizable increase in the number of bats in homes.
The Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health reports a significant increase in the number of bats found inside homes with window air conditioning units. In 2018, reports to the department of potential exposure to rabies have increased 18 percent, and the number of bats submitted for testing is 61 percent higher compared to the same time period in 2017. The Department’s commissioner encourages residents to check their a/c units for gaps between the unit and window where bats could enter. There are many young bats this time of year, which increases the bat population. And, says the commissioner, bats can squeeze into a space as small as half an inch.
