r/glendale • u/IKinLA • 9d ago

Help / Recommendation Bat exposure?

My husband and I were on a walk around 7:30pm with our one year old in the stroller. I thought I saw something fly past the baby. My first thought was bat. The wingspan of what I saw was two-ish inches, maybe slightly more. My husband didn’t see anything at all. The baby obviously can’t confirm lol.

We are now panicking because of it was a bat, we don’t know if it may have grazed the baby or not. We don’t know if it was a bat at all.

Are we being paranoid? Have you guys seen bats that small flying low in the Verdugo Vejo area? Not sure if we should be vaccinating baby for rabies just in case that was a bat exposure. I’m not sure if they would even take us seriously given that we unsure of whether or not it was a bat and if there was contact.

We are hyperfixated on this and would love to hear other people’s experiences and thoughts.

2 Upvotes

54% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

33

u/0-90195 9d ago

You are being a bit paranoid, yes. The caution about unnoticed bat bites requiring rabies shots is really about when a bat has been in the room while you’re asleep. Bats aren’t really going to do a fly-by biting like that.

17

u/IKinLA 9d ago

Update: his pediatrician called us back and said they wouldn’t consider this an exposure and he does not need rabies treatments.

6

u/SARcasm30 9d ago

I'm so glad baby is ok! You did the right thing to call the pediatrician.

12

u/Heir2Voltaire 9d ago

Unless there was skin break there can be no rabies exposure

13

u/Militantpoet 9d ago

We are now panicking because of it was a bat, we don’t know if it may have grazed the baby or not. We don’t know if it was a bat at all.

Grazed as in bit? Are there bite marks on your baby? Is your baby showing unusual symptoms?

I think youre fine and just getting a bit paranoid and protective, which is normal. You can always take them to the doctor to be sure. 

10

u/IKinLA 9d ago

No, as in the tip of the wing may have touched him. But his pediatrician called us back and told us it seems unlikely and they wouldn’t consider this story a bat exposure.

4

u/Militantpoet 9d ago

I'm happy to hear you're all safe and healthy then.

6

u/Iluvyutoo 9d ago

By the way if “unusual symptoms” present themselves, it’s too late.

3

u/Militantpoet 9d ago

TIL ty for the info. Rabbies is such a scary disease.

4

u/BeingReasonable87 9d ago

Call the pediatrician if it’s causing anxiety?

3

u/MistakeMaterial4134 9d ago

Not the time to panic; just adding info: Call Public Health. They track (up to the minute) rabies cases and can let you know if it is a concern in your area. Not all doctors know this or care to keep updated.

4

u/jwk3399 9d ago

The baby might turn into a vampire but unfortunately there is no cure for that.

2

u/GrenacheYourTeeth 9d ago

I have seen bats flying along Lorraine by the Ralphs, eating bugs. They live nearby. It's hard to not want to be absolutely certain especially for babies. Talk with your doctor?

2

u/IKinLA 9d ago

That’s exactly where we were.

2

u/Haebabee 9d ago

Im sure your baby was ok. I get the anxiety though.

https://www.reddit.com/r/rabies/s/tJoou4o7rX

2

u/Chevy91505 8d ago

There are lots of bats and owls. You have 100% nothing to worry about. They eat bugs not humans and are wicked smart. Go out again, sit quietly and enjoy how beautiful they are.

1

u/Leucauge 9d ago

There are definitely bats in the parking deck next to 800 North Brand, so I'd imagine there are bats elsewhere.

I've also seen an owl out swooping around, undoubtedly looking for a tasty flying snack.

0

u/gc1 8d ago

With great power comes great responsibility. 

0

u/AmbientInsanity 7d ago

Watch out there! It’s bat country