You may not know what a bat’s flight pattern or behavior is in the first place. A sick bat will appear aimless, flying in circles or in an erratic pattern. Some of them even struggle to fly at all, remaining on the ground.

If a bat is flying strangely above you, it’s best to turn around and walk out of its general area. A sick bat is unpredictable, so avoidance is better than interaction. You should also call animal control to keep it from spreading whatever it’s sick with.

If you see a bat on the ground, don’t touch it. Leave it alone and call animal control. If a bat is on the ground (especially in daylight), then it most likely was kicked out of its roost. Healthy bats in the roost will kick out sick ones to avoid contamination.