Ask A Scientist© Zoology Archive

name        Scott
age         16

Question -  I am interested in raising bats. Where do I start?
 
I strongly suggest you do something else.  I worked with bats as a graduate
student and it is absolutely dangerous for inexperienced students.  They
carry rabies, so preventative shots is a requirement.  They are not or will
ever be friendly.  Their guano carries diseases and that alone should be a
enough to convince you otherwise.  Furthermore, you have to have a Federal
permit and in most States a second permit to keep them.  Unless you have a
sponsor, it is unlikely that will happen.

What you could do is build bat friendly housing around your house, and I
suggest you seek out that information at a library.  Bats are great for
keeping flying insects populations under control.
Steve Sample
York Community High School
Elmhurst, Illinois
ssample@elmhurst.k12.il.us
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Try Bat Conservation International at:
http://www.batcon.org/
J. Elliott

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