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September 24, 2007

By JOY HAMPTON, staff writer

The bats in the planning commission building at 212 South Missouri have to find a new home, but expert in humane wildlife removal, Ned Bruha, said they should not be killed. He also said concerns regarding histoplasmosis were overstated.

While Bruha said he “respected the decision” to evacuate the building last July due to the concerns over public and employee safety there is no reason to believe the air is dangerous.

Bruha said a public entity like the county has to take precautions to avoid being sued. However, Oklahoma’s state epidemiologist, Dr. Kristy Bradley went on record as saying there is no reason to be scared of the air quality in the building according to Bruha.

“Smelling bat guano is not going to make you sick,” said Bruha. He said the building could be “deoderized” after the bats are evicted. The building will also be sealed to prevent future entry by bats.

“I haven’t been directly involved with this particular building though this is a concern that comes up periodically with bats roosting and leaving quantities of guano,” said Bradley. “We know from experience that unless the deposits of guano are directly in line with the air handling system, it does not impose an immediate health threat to occupants of the building.”

In July, the building was evacuated due to concerns about histoplasmosis.

According to Bat Conservation International, Inc. (BCI), “Histoplasmosis is a respiratory disease caused by a fungus that grows in soil enriched by animal droppings, most frequently birds. Ninety percent of all reported cases in humans come from the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and adjacent areas where warm, humid conditions favor fungal growth.”

See video for further comment from Ned Bruha, The Skunk Whisperer.