Animal Control for a dead bat

I know there's been a huge outcry for our loss of a local animal control officer. We had a terrible experience this afternoon in which we found a dead bat in the street and no one would collect it. We called Maplewood PD non-emergency line and Associated Humane Services in Newark. They said they could pick up the bat first thing Monday morning. Due to a large number of small children playing in the area, as well as lots of dogs in the neighborhood, we felt it necessary to collect and dispose of the dead bat ourselves. I found it quite frustrating and troubling that there was no one to help. 

The other morning, I noticed a dead raccoon on my sidewalk.  I just put it in a trashbag and put it in the trash.  What's the big deal?  Now a deer, I could understand, since they don't really fit in trash bags.

You can get rabies from a dead animal.

http://www.cdc.gov/features/bats/

Shovel--->garbage bag. Done.

Remember the bat incident in Memorial Park not too long ago?  If the dead bat was in an area where children play and if one or more of the children had touched it or it had touched them, there is the possibility that one or more of these children could have contracted rabies as a result.  Animal control can test the bat to determine if rabies shots are needed for those who came in contact, trash bag to garbage, gloves or no gloves, not so much.  The Health Department could benefit from knowing if the animal died of a disease (not necessarily rabies) that could negatively impact the wildlife population and by extension the human population in our area.  That is why pick-up by animal control is preferable to simply disposing of the dead animal ones self.

joan_crystal said:

That is why pick-up by animal control is preferable to simply disposing of the dead animal ones self.

 This is very true, but we don't have animal control anymore correct? It is subcontracted to Newark and if they don't see enough of a health risk to have it picked up over the weekend should we believe they would see enough of a health risk to have it tested for rabies as opposed to just dumping it in a bag themselves?

Historically, animal control was not available on weekends in Maplewood in any case, and the police did not come for live animals  so probably would no have come for a dead bat. I completely agree with the need to have it picked up by an official entity and tested. The interim solution would be to keep all dogs on leash away from the bat and supervise all children so they stay away also. Sorry for the bad experience but I don’t think the lack of animal control is an issue in this particular case.

fabulouswalls said:

You can get rabies from a dead animal.

http://www.cdc.gov/features/bats/

Darn.  I knew I shouldn't have picked it up with my barehands.  And I guess I should have washed my hands afterwards.

AHS is under contract to provide animal control services to the township.

I understand Joan's point about testing a dead animal for diseases if you think it has been handled by children.

But beyond that, I hardly expect my taxes to be used to collect small dead animals.  With every passing day, the contrast between my father's childhood growing up broke (he didn't live in poverty, they just had no money) in a Wyoming coal town to our lives today strikes me more and more.

tjohn said:

fabulouswalls said:

You can get rabies from a dead animal.

http://www.cdc.gov/features/bats/

Darn.  I knew I shouldn't have picked it up with my barehands.  And I guess I should have washed my hands afterwards.

Smartass. That wasn't directed at you. Some people (not you) just don't understand how things work.

from Robert Roe, Maplewood Health Dept.   Housewo, please call me.  973-762-8120 x4400.