Bat Bites On the Rise in Rockford

Yesterday I saw a headline on WIFR.com that nearly made me lose my mind.

At my family's cabin up North we have a friendly neighborhood bat that tends to hang outside in the top rafters of our A-frame. We sometimes see his droppings on the deck, which we quickly sweep away, but other than that we appreciate the fact that he is there keeping the mosquitoes at bay.

He has never bitten, bothered us, or tried to fly into the cabin, but if he does, GAME OVER.

Apparently some bats in the Rockford area are not playing nice, and I cannot deal.

I know we're not talking hundreds of people being bitten locally, but one is one too many I say.

Here's some tips for "bat-proofing" your house from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bats entry into your living quarters.
• Any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch should be caulked.
• Use window screens, chimney caps, and draft-guards beneath doors to attics.
• Fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking. Ensure that all doors to the outside close tightly.
• Most bats leave in the fall or winter to hibernate, so these are the best times to "bat-proof" your home. During summer, many young bats are unable to fly. If you exclude adult bats during this time, the young may be trapped inside.

Catch Lil Zim on ‘Q98.5 Mornings with Lil Zim & JB’ on Q98.5 from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook