Bat House Forum

[Carmen]

I bought a bat house and was planning to put it up, and someone on a horse forum I visit mentioned the Hendra virus killing horses and people, and being carried by bats? Is that true? I googled it and only see it as happening in Australia. I live in SC, is this any concern for me? I have two horses. I had planned to put the bat house up near the roof of their walk in shelter, is this an ok idea? It's a good spot for the bats b/c it's close to a stream, and up about 12 feet off the ground. But can anyone enlighten me about the Hendra virus?

[cloudman75]

Carmen, after reading your post, I searched the net for info on the Hendra virus. The connection I found with bats was the large fruit bats,(flying foxes), that they have in Australia. As you know we don't have that type of bats in the SE USA. I am in Georgia and have not heard of the virus. I'll look some more and post a link if I find anything . I personally don't believe it would be a problem or the CDC in Atlanta would have called it to our attention. This is just my opinion as
I had never heard of the virus before you mentioned it. I would not install a bat house where the horses can get to the bat guano just for general cleaness and health of the horses. My daughter had ponies and horses for years here at my 6 1/2 acres.

Frank