Understanding Knowledge and Perceptions of Bats 

Among Residents of Fort Collins, Colorado 

By Natalie R. Sexton and Susan C. Stewart 

Open-File Report 2007-1245 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 
U.S. Department of the Interior 

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Mark D. Myers, Director 

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 2007 

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endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. 

Suggested citation: 

Sexton, N.R., and Stewart, S.C., 2007, Understanding knowledge and perceptions of bats among 

residents of Fort Collins, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Discipline, 

Open-File Report 2007-1245, 22 p. 

ii
Contents 

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................. v

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 1

Study Objectives................................................................................................................................................... 1

Methods ................................................................................................................................................................. 2

Response Rate ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

Measurement of Concepts ................................................................................................................................. 3

Familiarity ........................................................................................................................................................... 3

Knowledge ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Perceived Risk................................................................................................................................................... 4

Wildlife Value Orientations ............................................................................................................................. 4

Attitudes and Beliefs........................................................................................................................................ 4

Behavioral Intentions and Behaviors............................................................................................................ 5

Communication ................................................................................................................................................. 5

Respondent Characteristics ........................................................................................................................... 5

Data Analysis......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Respondent Characteristics ............................................................................................................................... 6

Familiarity with Bats............................................................................................................................................. 7

Knowledge about Bats ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Perceived Risks of Encountering Bats ........................................................................................................... 11

Perceived Risks of Getting Rabies .................................................................................................................. 12

Wildlife Value Orientations ............................................................................................................................... 13

Attitudes and Beliefs toward Bats .................................................................................................................. 13

Likely Behaviors toward Bats........................................................................................................................... 16

Communication ................................................................................................................................................... 19

Conclusions ......................................................................................................................................................... 20

References........................................................................................................................................................... 21

iii
Figures 

1. The cognitive hierarchy model of human behavior..................................................................................... 4

2. General residents of Fort Collins, Colo., and bat encounter group familiarity with bats...................... 8

3. Self-assessed knowledge of Fort Collins, Colo., residents regarding bat ecology and bat/rabies 

relationship ............................................................................................................................................................. 9

4. Actual knowledge of Fort Collins, Colo., residents regarding bat ecology and bat/rabies 

relationship ............................................................................................................................................................. 9

5. General residents of Fort Collins, Colo., and bat encounter group respondents’ perceived 

likelihood of encountering a bat ....................................................................................................................... 11

6. General residents of Fort Collins, Colo., and bat encounter group respondents’ perceived risk of 

rabies if they were to encounter a bat ............................................................................................................ 12

7. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ general attitudes toward bats................................................................... 14

8. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ general beliefs about bats (mean scores) .............................................. 14

9. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ general beliefs about bats (percents) ..................................................... 15

10. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ specific attitudes about bats (mean scores)........................................ 15

11. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ specific attitudes about bats (percents)............................................... 16

12. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ likelihood of engaging in conservation behaviors regarding bats 

(mean scores)....................................................................................................................................................... 16

13. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ likelihood of engaging in conservation behaviors regarding bats 

(percents).............................................................................................................................................................. 17

14. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ likelihood of mitigating bats in their residences (mean scores)....... 18

15. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ likelihood of mitigating bats in their residences (percents).............. 18

16. Sources that Fort Collins, Colo., residents have used for news and information about bats in the 

years 1999–2004................................................................................................................................................... 19

Tables 

1. Survey response rates among residents of Fort Collins, Colo., pertaining to their perceptions and 

knowledge of bats ................................................................................................................................................. 3

2. Demographics of Fort Collins, Colo., residents responding to a survey questionnaire........................ 7

3. Percent correct answers by general residents of Fort Collins, Colo., on knowledge questions 

regarding bat ecology......................................................................................................................................... 10

4. Percent correct answers by general residents of Fort Collins, Colo., on knowledge questions 

regarding the relationship between bats and rabies.................................................................................... 10

iv
v

Acknowledgements 

This study was part of a larger 5-year ecological study of big brown bats in Fort Collins. 

Major funding for this study was provided by a grant from the National Science Foundation 

Ecology of Infectious Disease Program to Colorado State University. We would like to thank the 

bat ecologists at Colorado State University and U.S. Geological Survey for the invaluable scientific 

knowledge they contributed to the development and refinement of the study plan and survey 

instrument. We would also like to thank the following individuals for their review of the survey 

instrument: Rich Grossman, Larimer County Health Department; Sarah Alexander, Larimer County 

Humane Society; Merlin Tuttle and Pat Ludden, Bat Conservation International, Kirk Navo, 

Colorado Division of Wildlife; John Pape, Colorado Department of Public Health and 

Environment; April Davis, Colorado State University; and Jeff Wimsatt, University of Virginia. 
Understanding Knowledge and Perceptions of Bats 

Among Residents of Fort Collins, Colorado 

By Natalie R. Sexton and Susan C. Stewart 

Introduction 

As regional urbanization increases in Colorado, so do interactions between humans and 

wildlife. Where previous habitat has been reduced due to urbanization and development, a few bat 

species that easily adapt to new environments now roost in homes and buildings (Kunz and 

Reynolds, 2003). Bats frequently serve as reservoirs of disease that have potential health 

consequences for humans and other mammals (Messenger and others, 2003). As bat use of 

buildings becomes more frequent, the incidences of bat/human contact and the risk of spreading 

disease also increase. 

In Colorado, rabies is most common in the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) Pape and 

others, 1999), the most ubiquitous species of urban-dwelling bat in the United States (Barbour and 

Davis, 1969) and the most common species submitted for rabies testing in Colorado (Pape and 

others, 1999). An in-depth knowledge of the big brown bat—including its ecology, habitat and 

movements, and aspects of disease transmission—and of its interactions with humans is essential 

for making informed management decisions regarding this species. To balance the competing 

priorities of species preservation and public safety, natural resource managers and public health 

professionals must be able to accurately estimate citizens’ knowledge, perceptions, and perceived 

risks regarding the bat species that use human dwellings and harbor diseases potentially dangerous 

to humans. 

A recently completed five-year ecological study (2001–2005) on bats inhabiting buildings 

in Fort Collins, Colo., has provided much information on the basic epidemiology of rabies and on 

the ecology of the local bat population (Davis, Rudd, and Bowen, 2007; Ellison and others, 2007; 

Neubaum, Douglas, and others, in press; Neubaum, O'Shea, and Wilson, 2006; Neubaum, Wilson, 

and O'Shea, 2007; O'Shea, Ellison, and Stanley, 2004; Pearce and O'Shea, 2007; Pearce and others, 

in press; Shankar and others, 2004; Shankar and others, 2005; Wimsatt and others 2005). Research 

investigating the human dimensions of bats and bat/rabies relationships, however, has been very 

limited (Gibbins and others, 2002; Liesener and others, 2006). Herein, we report the results of a 

study to evaluate perceptions and knowledge of bats and rabies among residents of Fort Collins, 

Colo. The study resulted from collaborations between U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) bat 

ecologists of the Trust Species and Habitats branch, and social scientists of the Policy Analysis and 

Science Assistance branch, both of the USGS Fort Collins Science Center (FORT). 

Study Objectives 

The primary objectives of this study were to investigate public familiarity, awareness, 

knowledge, perception, and potential risk, as pertaining to bats and rabies, among Fort Collins 

residents. Specifically, this research was designed to answer the following questions: 

1
• What is the level of familiarity with the Fort Collins bat population? 

• What is the level of knowledge about bats and about the relationship between bats and 

rabies? 

• What are the value orientations held toward wildlife in general? 

• What are the attitudes and beliefs toward bats? 

• What are the risks that residents perceive as they relate to encountering a bat and 

contracting rabies from bats? 

• What are the sources of information residents use to learn about bats? 

• What are the relationships between familiarity, knowledge, attitudes, and perceived risk? 

It was hypothesized that answers to these questions would differ according to one’s previous 

experience with bats. 

Methods 

The study area was defined as the city limits of Fort Collins, Colo. During the fall of 2004, 

a survey questionnaire was mailed to two sample populations of Fort Collins residents: (1) Fort 

Collins residents (“general resident” stratified by zip code) and (2) individuals who had reported at 

least one encounter with a bat to the Larimer County Humane Society (“bat encounter resident”). 

The general resident sample (n = 1,294) was randomly drawn from a household database of names 

and addresses of Fort Collins residents maintained by Marketing Systems Group (Fort Washington, 

Pa.). The bat encounter resident sample (n = 460) was obtained by querying the Larimer County 

Humane Society’s database for Fort Collins residents that had reported a bat encounter between the 

years of 1997 and 2004. To protect resident confidentiality, we excluded cases wherein the bat was 

tested and found positive for rabies (usually when a bite occurred). 

To ensure that the human dimensions data collected were linked with the ecological portion 

of this study, we developed the survey questionnaire in collaboration with FORT bat ecologists. 

There were two versions of the survey, one for each population sampled. The majority of the 

survey was the same for both samples, with some more specific questions included for the bat 

encounter sample. The preliminary surveys were reviewed by the research team and then peerreviewed and pretested for readability, clarity, and conciseness. They were then approved by the 

U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Colorado State University Regulatory 

Compliance Office, Human Research Committee (OMB #1028-0081; CSU/HRC #04-194). 

The surveys were distributed according to a step-by-step procedure based on the Total 

Design Method (Dillman, 2000) which maximizes the quality and quantity of responses for mail 

and telephone surveys: 

• Survey packets included the survey questionnaire, a postage-paid return envelope, a cover 

letter explaining the study, and an incentive (a calendar magnet with photo of Horsetooth 

Rock—a local landmark). 

• One survey packet was sent to each resident in the samples. Over the course of the 

following seven weeks, one thank you/reminder postcard and two more survey packages 

were sent to those who had not responded. 

2
Response Rate 

Of the 1,294 packets sent to general residents 126 were returned as undeliverable1 and 718 

completed surveys were returned, for a final response rate of 61 percent (table 1). Of the 460 

packets sent to bat encounter residents, 145 were recorded as undeliverable and 220 completed 

surveys were returned, for a response rate of 70 percent (table 1). These response rates and 

associated confidence intervals exceed professional standards for this type of research (Dillman, 

2000). 

Table 1. Survey response rates among residents of Fort Collins, Colo., pertaining to their perceptions 

and knowledge of bats. 

Response rate General residentsa Bat encounter resident b

Surveys distributed 1,294 460 

Respondents 718 220 

Response rate (%) 61 70 

Confidence interval (±) 3.5 4.8 

a Random sample of people living within Fort Collins city limits. 

b People living within the Fort Collins city limits and who had reported an encounter with a bat between 1997 and 2004. 

Measurement of Concepts 

Familiarity 

Respondent familiarity with bats in Fort Collins was assessed on the basis of answers to 

several questions. First, general residents were asked whether they were aware—prior to receiving 

the survey—that bats occurred in Fort Collins and whether they had ever seen a bat in the city. 

Additionally, if respondents had seen bats in Fort Collins, they were asked where these sightings 

occurred. Sighting locations were broken down into researcher-defined areas based on the 

proximity to the respondent’s residence (that is, from seeing a bat “around Fort Collins” to “using 

my residence or other structure in my yard”). Finally, residents were asked how often they saw bats 

in Fort Collins; the frequency of sightings from which respondents could choose ranged from “once 

or twice” to seeing bats “every summer, multiple times.” 

Knowledge 

Knowledge about (1) the ecology of bats and (2) bats and rabies was measured through two 

methods. First, on a scale from 1 to 5 (with 1 being “nothing at all” and 5 being “a great deal”), 

respondents were asked to gauge their level of knowledge on both subjects. Second, a combination 

of multiple choice and true/false statements was used to assess respondents’ actual knowledge. 

These questions were created in collaboration with the bat ecologists to ensure an accurate 

representation of general knowledge about bats and about bats and rabies. The peer-review and 

pretesting phase ensured that these questions were not inordinately difficult for the average 

respondent to answer. 

 

1

 An undeliverable packet was defined as one that had either an incorrect or unknown address, and therefore could not 

be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Also defined as undeliverable were cases in which the resident was deceased or 

too ill to participate. 

3
Perceived Risk 

Perceptions of risk were measured on two categories: (1) the chances of having an 

encounter with a bat and (2) the chances of contracting rabies if an encounter should occur. To have 

relative measures of perceived risk, questions pertaining to situations unrelated to bats were 

included (for example, being bitten by a dog or contracting West Nile virus if bitten by a 

mosquito). Respondents were asked to rate each incident on a scale from 0 (no chance) to 10 

(certain chance). For convenience of interpretation, averages of these scores were converted to 

percent probabilities. 

Wildlife Value Orientations 

Wildlife value orientations were introduced in the human dimensions literature by Fulton 

and others (1996) and are used extensively in human dimensions of wildlife research. These value 

orientations arose from the field of social psychology, specifically the theory of cognitive 

hierarchy. The theory states that values form the base of a cognition hierarchy that drives our basic 

beliefs and attitudes, and as a result drives our behavior as well (Homer and Kahle, 1988; fig. 1). 

Wildlife value orientations come into play as groupings of basic beliefs regarding wildlife 

specifically. They are designed to aid in the prediction of an individual’s behavior regarding 

wildlife and wildlife-related issues. In this study, we used a subset of items originally used by 

Fulton and others (1996). Respondents were asked to rate their agreement with each statement on a 

Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), with 4 being the neutral 

point. 

Figure 1. The cognitive hierarchy model of human behavior (Homer and Kahle, 1988). 

Attitudes and Beliefs 

After the cognitive hierarchy, attitudes and beliefs are the next level in predicting behaviors 

about the object or action in question. An attitude has been defined as a positive or negative 

evaluation of an object or action, and involves both a cognitive and an affective component (Pierce 

4
and others, 2001). Within the cognitive hierarchy, beliefs exist in close conjunction with attitudes. 

They provide the cognitive side of attitudes, or what people think to be true of the evaluative object 

(Pierce and others, 2001). Attitudes and beliefs about bats were broken down into several 

categories of affect, in particular, general attitudes about bats, general beliefs about bats, and 

specific beliefs about bats in Fort Collins and at one’s residence. 

Behavioral Intentions and Behaviors 

The intent of this study was to ascertain the perceptions and knowledge of the Fort Collins 

community regarding bats. Though city or county wildlife managers were not considering specific 

management alternatives, the goal was to obtain as much information as possible from respondents, 

so scenarios potentially involving a future communication or management scheme could be guided 

by information provided from this study. According to Ajzen and Fishbein (1980), the best 

predictor of an individual’s behavior is his or her intention to engage in that behavior. Therefore, on 

a scale from 1 (not likely) to 4 (very likely), respondents were asked to rate the likelihood that they 

would take a particular action toward bats (1) in general and (2) in the event that a bat was using 

their residence for roosting. Respondents could also indicate that they were not sure about their 

likelihood of taking a particular action. These questions were broken into two behavior categories: 

bat conservation behaviors and bat mitigation behaviors. The first category included general actions 

and did not require that a respondent have an encounter with a bat (for example, “put up a bat box 

at my residence” or “join or support a bat conservation group”). The second category included 

behaviors they would take if they found a bat using their residence as a roost (for example, “do 

nothing,” “allow bats to stay,” or “have bats removed using lethal methods”). 

Communication 

To assess the types of information that people had about bats and help identify the most 

likely places it was being sought, respondents were asked to indicate where they had obtained news 

and information about bats during 1999–2004. Sources common to most pursuits of information, 

such as newspapers, television, internet, or radio, were included as well as some sources that are 

more specific to the subject at hand. These specific sources included bat conservation groups, 

public health agencies, bat experts, and the Humane Society. In addition, respondents in the bat 

encounter group were asked whether they were provided with information and whether they sought 

information after their bat encounter. If applicable, they were then asked to specify the type of 

information that was provided to them and the sources from which they sought information. 

Respondent Characteristics 

To understand residents’ characteristics, respondents were asked a series of 

sociodemographic questions regarding length of residency, type of residence (in relation to 

likelihood of encountering bats), pet ownership, gender, age, education, employment, and income. 

Respondents who owned dogs were asked to specify the number of dogs they had, how many spend 

time outdoors, and how many of their adult dogs had been vaccinated for rabies. The same 

questions were asked in regard to cats. To assess the potential for adult respondents’ exposure to 

information about bats and (or) rabies through information brought home from their school-aged 

children, respondents were asked how many children less than 12 yrs of age were living in the 

home. The question regarding residence type was categorical and entailed choosing from “mobile 

home,” “one-family house detached from any other house,” “one-family house attached to one or 

more houses,” or “a building with multiple apartments.” Questions regarding residence 

5
rental/ownership status and size were also categorical; size was “one-story,” “two-story,” and 

“more than two stories.” Residence age pertained to the approximate year or decade in which the 

building was built. Open-ended questions were used to ascertain length of residency in the current 

home as well as in Fort Collins. Education level was measured on a continuous scale from 1 yr to 

20 or more yrs; respondents were asked to circle the highest year of formal schooling. Income was 

measured by asking respondents to select one of nine categories indicating their approximate 

household income before taxes. Respondents were advised that the demographic questions were 

used for statistical purposes only and would not be linked with them individually in any way. 

Data Analysis 

Data were analyzed using SPSS 14.0. The general resident group and bat encounter group 

were compared to examine the differences between the two. Few differences were found; where 

meaningful2 statistical differences were found, they are specifically identified and addressed. 

Otherwise, for simplicity of reporting, all means and percentages presented are taken from the 

general resident group. The first phase of data analysis involved running frequencies on all 

variables to gain a basic understanding of the percentages of people who answered in certain ways, 

as well as the mean levels of knowledge, attitudes, and perceived risk. Upon completion of the 

frequency analyses, scales were constructed (based on original study hypotheses and values and 

attitudes literature–Fulton and others, 1996; Bright and Manfredo, 1996). 

Respondent Characteristics 

Overall, there were no meaningful differences between general residents and the bat 

encounter group in terms of sociodemographic variables; the one exception was gender (table 2). 

The general resident group included more males, while the bat encounter group had more females 

(χ

2

 = 66.51, P < 0.001, Φ = 0.27). Regarding pet ownership, 68 percent of bat encounter 

respondents and 52 percent of general residents indicated that they owned a dog or cat that spends 

time outdoors. Of those, a little more than half indicated they own more than one dog or cat. Nearly 

all said their pets were vaccinated. A majority of residents (77 percent) indicated that they lived in 

a one-family house detached from any other building and that they owned the building in which 

they lived (82 percent). On average, residents had lived in their current residence for 9 yrs and in 

Fort Collins for 17 yrs.

 

2

 Meaningful differences were defined as follows: Statistical differences at p < 0.05 may exist, although in some cases 

the differences were not practically significant. Practical significance was defined by measures of association indicating 

“typical” to “substantial” statistical differences in populations as opposed to “minimal” differences due to sample size. 

Although statistically significant, minimal differences were not reported because they were not substantive in their 

application to populations. 

6
Table 2. Demographics of Fort Collins, Colo., residents responding to a survey questionnaire. 

Demographics General residents Bat encounter residents 

Gendera

Male 65% 34% 

Female 35% 67% 

Average age 49 49 

Worked full or part-time 76% 69% 

Retired 36% 20% 

Highest average education level College College 

Median household income $50,000–$74,999 $50,000–$74,999 

a

χ

2

 = 66.51, P < 0.001, Φ = 0.27 

Familiarity with Bats 

Fort Collins residents appear to have a high familiarity with bats in Fort Collins. Before 

receiving the survey, approximately 80 percent were aware that bats occurred in the city and 

approximately 70 percent had seen a bat in Fort Collins. Over a third (36 percent) of general 

residents and nearly half (48 percent) of the bat encounter group saw bats regularly (every summer; 

fig. 2). 

When asked where they have seen bats, a majority of both groups have seen bats in town 

and in their neighborhood at dusk, with more bat encounter respondents having seen them using 

their residence or other structure in their yard (χ

2

 = 60.72, P < 0.001, Φ = -0.25). Because bats are 

nocturnal animals, they do not generally fly around during the day unless they are sick or injured. 

Most residents did not indicate that they had seen bats during the day; however, bat encounter 

respondents were much more likely to have seen bats during the day, especially in their yard (30 

percent for bat encounter respondents, 10 percent for general residents; χ

2

 = 98.53, P < 0.001, Φ = -

0.39) or using their residence (25 percent for bat encounter respondents, 4 percent for general 

residents; χ

2

 = 60.72, P < 0.001, Φ = -0.30). 

Though familiar with bats, only approximately13 percent (n = 94) of general residents had 

had an encounter with a bat in Fort Collins. Situations were varied, from having had a bat inside 

their residence to finding a bat on the ground. Only a small portion of those encounters (14 percent, 

n = 13) involved direct contact with a bat. 

7
80%

69%

34% 36%

68%

30%

36%

18%

10%

74%

59% 55%

100%

34%

48% 50%

18%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Aware of bats in Fort Collins

Ever seen a bat in Fort Collins

Seen once or twice

See some summers

See every summer

Seen bats around town

Seen bats in neighborhood

Seen bats in yard

Seen bats using residence

Had an encounter with a bat

Residents

Encounter

group

Figure 2. General residents of Fort Collins, Colo., and bat encounter group familiarity with bats.

Knowledge about Bats 

When asked about their knowledge regarding bat ecology and the relationship between bats 

and rabies, residents felt they knew nothing to very little about bat ecology or transmission of 

rabies from bats (fig. 3). Overall residents’ actual knowledge about bat ecology is low (table 3, fig. 

4), with average scores of 64 percent. Knowledge about the relationship between bats and rabies 

was somewhat higher than self-assessed knowledge (what they thought they knew), but still fairly 

low, with average scores of 70 percent (table 4, fig. 4). The average percent of correct responses on 

all questions was 67 percent. 

8
9

Self-Assessed Knowledge

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

A B C DF 

Percent

(A great deal) (A fair amount) (Some) (Very little) (Nothing) 

Ecology Rabies

Figure 3. Self-assessed knowledge of Fort Collins, Colo., residents regarding bat ecology and 

bat/rabies relationship. Average scores were converted into a grade.

Actual Knowledge

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

A (8/8) B (7/8) C (6/8) D (5/8) F (4/8)

Percent

Ecology Rabies

Figure 4. Actual knowledge of Fort Collins, Colo., residents regarding bat ecology and bat/rabies 

relationship. Average scores (number of correct answers per total number of questions) have been 

converted into a grade based on percent of correct answers. 
Table 3. Percent correct answers by general residents of Fort Collins, Colo., on knowledge 

questions regarding bat ecology. 

Question Percent correct (%) 

Bats are able to navigate at night because they can echolocate (use sonar).a92 

In the Fort Collins area, bats live in buildings, trees, and caves/abandoned mines.b83 

Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. (T) 79 

Bats’ bodies are covered with fur, they give birth to live young, and their wings 

are covered with skin. Bats are not a type of rodent.c

75 

Bats are blind. (F) 68 

Bats in the Fort Collins area hibernate during the winter. (T) 64 

A benefit of bats worldwide is that they aid in pollination of flowers, aid in seed 

dispersal, and eat agricultural insect pests.d

48 

Mosquitoes are the main food source for bats in Fort Collins. (F) 30 

a The second most frequently chosen answer was “have good night vision” (5 percent). 

b The second most frequently chosen answer was “buildings” (10 percent). 

c The second most frequently chosen answer was “bats’ bodies are not covered with fur” (16 percent). 

d The most frequently chosen answer was “eat agricultural insect pests” (51 percent). 

Table 4. Percent correct answers by general residents of Fort Collins, Colo., on knowledge 

questions regarding the relationship between bats and rabies. 

Question Correct (%) 

Rabies is primarily transmitted by a bite from an infected animal. (T) 98 

A bat flying erratically at dusk is typical behavior of a healthy bat.a 94 

Bats transmit West Nile virus. (F) 92 

Bat bites should be treated by immediately cleaning the wound and consulting a physician, 

capturing the bat for rabies testing, and having rabies shots if the bat tests positive for rabies.b

89 

A very small proportion of bats in Colorado can infect animals or people with rabies.c84 

If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal. (T) 81 

Rabies transmitted by bats accounts for less than five human deaths per year in the United States.d 68 

Guano can be a source of lung infections. (T) 53 

Thousands of people die from rabies worldwide each year, mostly from bites by raccoons. (F) 56 

Bats account for the most cases of rabies in Colorado wildlife.e 7 

Bats in Fort Collins are an important control of West Nile virus because they eat mosquitoes. (F) 7 a The second most frequently chosen answer was “flying during daylight” (4 percent). 

b The second most frequently chosen answer was “immediately cleaning wound and consulting physician” (9 percent). c The second most frequently chosen answer was “about half” (7 percent). d The second most frequently chosen answer was “50 deaths per year” (27 percent). e The most frequently chosen answer was “raccoons” (62 percent). 

10
Perceived Risks of Encountering Bats 

Overall, respondents felt it was not very likely they would ever have physical contact with a 

bat (for example, be bitten or scratched by one, inadvertently touch one, or have one land on them), 

and felt it more likely that a bat would get inside their residence or use the outside of their 

residence for roosting (fig. 5). Bat encounter respondents perceived a greater risk of bats getting 

inside their residence (F = 66.23, P < 0.001, η = 0.26) and bats using their residence for roosting (F

= 76.01, P < 0.001, η = 0.28) than did general residents. This result was not an expected result, as 

many respondents in the encounter group actually had this encounter with a bat. 

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Being bitten by

a bat and not

knowing it

Being bitten by

a bat

Being scratched

by a bat

Having a bat

land on me

Inadvertently

touching a bat

Being bitten by

a snake

Being bitten by

a dog

Having a bat get

inside my

residence

Having a bat

use my

residence or

other structure

in yard to roost

Having a bird

get inside my

residence

General residents Bat encounter group

Figure 5. General residents of Fort Collins, Colo., and bat encounter group respondents’ perceived 

likelihood of encountering a bat.

While perceived risks for bat encounters appeared fairly low, they were greater than the 

actual encounters that occurred in the general resident group, of which <1 percent had been bitten 

or scratched, had inadvertently touched a bat, or had one land on them, and approximately 7 

percent had a bat inside their residence. Though there are no direct quantifications of the actual risk 

11
of these events occurring, based on information available in the literature we would characterize 

respondents’ perceived risks as somewhat overstated (Pape and others, 1999; Tuttle, 2000; and 

Gibbons and others, 2002). 

Perceived Risks of Getting Rabies 

When asked about their risk of contracting rabies if they came in contact with a bat, both 

general and bat encounter respondents perceived similar risks (fig. 6). Most general residents (70 

percent) and bat encounter residents (84 percent) also agree that getting rabies is something to 

worry about (not shown in figure). 

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Percent

Getting rabies if I

was in close

proximity to a

bat

Getting rabies if I

was scratched

by a bat

Getting rabies if I

was biten by a

bat

Contracting

West Nile if I

was bitten by a

mosquito

Falling off a

ladder at my

residence

Being in a traffic

accident

Catching a cold

from a coworker

or a friend

General residents Bat encounter group

Figure 6. General residents of Fort Collins, Colo., and bat encounter group respondents’ perceived 

risk of rabies if they were to encounter a bat. 

Although it is difficult to make direct comparisons among datasets, a few studies provide 

insight into the actual risk of rabies from bat encounters. In Colorado, there has not been a case of 

human rabies reported since 1931 (Pape and others, 1999). One study suggests that, in most of 

North America, only a small proportion (about 1 in 1,000) of free-flying bats may be infected with 

rabies (Constantine, 1988). Other authors, however, suggest that the prevalence of rabies may be 

greater in big brown bats (the species most common in Fort Collins), ranging from nearly 2 in 100 

to 5 in 100 individuals (Dean and others, 1960; Schnurrenberger and others, 1964; Girard and 

others, 1965; Constantine, 1967). Finally, a study by Pape and others (1999) reveals a 20 percent 

12
occurrence of rabies in bats submitted for testing after a bite to a human. Based on these previous 

studies, the perceived risks indicated by respondents in this study are likely overestimated, despite 

the fact that they appear relatively low, especially for the likelihood of getting rabies if in close 

proximity to or if scratched by a bat. 

Wildlife Value Orientations 

There were no meaningful differences in wildlife value orientations between general and bat 

encounter residents. The prevailing wildlife value orientation was utilitarian (42 percent), whereas 

45 percent scored in the neutral range, and only 13 percent classified as protectionists. This 

breakdown could have bearing on future management actions, if any arise, because previous studies 

have found links between wildlife value orientations and level of support for certain management 

actions. Specifically, those people with more utilitarian orientations tend to support more intensive 

actions, whereas people on the protectionist end of the scale favor less intensive management (Zinn 

others, 1998; Manfredo and others, 1998). 

Attitudes and Beliefs toward Bats 

Because there were no meaningful differences in attitudes and beliefs about bats between 

general and the bat encounter residents, results for general residents only are presented below. Fort 

Collins residents’ general attitudes toward bats can be summarized as neutral-positive (fig. 7). Sixty 

percent of residents feel positively toward them and over half said they like bats. Only 20 percent 

said they did not like bats, with 30 percent being unsure or neutral. 

When asked more detailed questions about their general beliefs regarding bats, nearly 90 

percent of respondents believed that they are beneficial and an important part of a healthy 

ecosystem, and approximately 80 percent believed that they deserve protection. Most residents, in 

general, do not view bats as a nuisance or threat (figs. 8 and 9). 

Residents’ specific attitudes about having bats among them are positive, so long as they are 

at a distance (figs. 10 and 11). Residents feel positively about having bats in Fort Collins and in 

their neighborhoods, but they are more split on having bats use a structure in their yard for roosting. 

Their views on bats using their residence begin to approach the negative range. They clearly do not 

view guano or bats inside their residence as positive experiences. 

13
Figure 7. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ general attitudes toward bats. 

Figure 8. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ general beliefs about bats (mean scores). 

4.76

5.98

4.90

1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00

Mean attitude

General attitude 

toward bats 

Are bats 

beneficial 

or harmful? 

Do you like or 

dislike bats? 

Strongly 

dislike 

Extremely 

negative 

Extremely 

harmful 

Strongly 

like 

Strongly 

beneficial 

Extremely 

positive 

2.5

3.3

3.3

3.4

3.6

4.6

5.1

2.3

2.3

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

Bats pose a threat to pets in the area where I liv e

Bats are a nuisance animal in Fort Collins

Bats are a phy sical threat to people

Bats cause odor problems

Bats are f rightening

Bats cause sanitation problems

Bats cause damage to buildings

Bats deserv e protection

Bats are an important component of a healthy ecosy stem

Mean agreement

Strongly 

Disagree 

Strongly 

Agree 

14
16%

20%

30%

31%

32%

81%

91%

73%

74%

76%

48%

42%

49%

54%

7%

21%

19%

8%

32%

28%

20%

14%

12%

6%

7%

6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Bats are a nuisance animal in Fort Collins

Bats pose a threat to pets in the area where I live

Bats are a physical threat to people

Bats cause odor problems

Bats cause damage to buildings

Bats cause sanitation problems

Bats are frightening

Bats deserve protection

Bats are an important component of a healthy ecosystem

Agree Disagree Neutral

Figure 9. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ general beliefs about bats (percents). 

4.7

4.0

3.1

2.5

1.6

4.8

5.4

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

Having bats in Fort Collins

Having bats in my neighborhood

Managing for larger bat populations

Having bats use a structure in my yard to roost

Having bats use my resdence to roost

Seeing guano on my residence

Having bats fly inside my residence

Mean belief Extremely 

positive 

Extremely 

negative 

Figure 10. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ specific attitudes about bats (mean scores). 

15
53%

45%

24%

7%

9%

21%

20%

40%

61%

76%

94%

21%

23%

27%

15%

15%

17%

1% 5%

70%

56%

Having bats in Fort Collins

Having bats in my neighborhood

Managing for larger bat populations

ng bats use a structure in my yard to roost

Having bats use my resdence to roost

Seeing guano on my residence

Having bats fly inside my residence

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Havi

Positive Negative Neutral

Figure 11. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ specific attitudes about bats (percents). 

Likely Behaviors toward Bats 

Fort Collins residents had mixed reactions on their likelihood of taking various actions 

related to bat conservation (figs. 12 and 13). While residents indicated they would be likely to learn 

more about bats (either bats and disease or the potential benefits of bats), it was less likely they 

would attend a presentation about bats and unlikely they would join or support a bat conservation 

group. They were only somewhat likely to take actions that would encourage interactions with bats, 

such as putting up a bat box (29 percent) or allowing bats to use the outside of their residence (24 

percent). 

Figure 12. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ likelihood of engaging in conservation behaviors regarding 

bats (mean scores).

1.4

1.8

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Join/support a bat

conservation group

Allow bats to use the

outside of my residence

2.0

2.0

2.8

2.9

Attend a presentation

about bats

Put up bat box at my

residence

Learn more about the

potential benefit of bats

Learn more about bats

and disease

Not likely Somewhat 

likely 

Likely Very likely

16
10%

24%

28%

29%

61%

65%

83%

72%

69%

65%

37%

34% 1%

3%

5%

7%

4%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Join/support a bat

conservation group

Allow bats to use the

outside of my residence

Attend a presentation about

bats

Put up bat box at my

residence

Learn more about the

potential benefit of bats

Learn more about bats and

disease

Likely Not likely Not sure

Figure 13. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ likelihood of engaging in conservation behaviors regarding 

bats (percents). 

When asked about the likelihood of taking particular actions if bats were to use their 

residences for roosting, residents were likely to allow bats to stay but would obtain information 

about risks and safety precautions, or they would close off the entry and exit points of the building 

in winter when the bats are gone (figs. 14 and 15). Residents were less likely to have them removed 

via live trapping or simply allow them to stay, and they were not likely to have them removed via 

lethal methods. 

17
1.3

2.2

2.2

2.5

2.9

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Have bats removed using

lethal trapping

Allow bats to stay

Have bats removed using

live trapping

Allow bats to stay, but obtain

information about

risks/precautions

Close off entry/exit points in

winter

Somewhat 

likely 

Very 

likely 

Not likely Likely 

Figure 14. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ likelihood of mitigating bats in their residences (mean 

scores). 

10%

37%

37%

46%

61%

84%

57%

53%

51%

32%

10%

7%

6%

3%

7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Have bats removed using

lethal trapping

Allow bats to stay

Have bats removed using live

trapping

Allow bats to stay, but obtain

information about

risks/precautions

Close off entry/exit points in

winter

Likely Not Likely Not sure

Figure 15. Fort Collins, Colo., residents’ likelihood of mitigating bats in their residences (percents). 

18
Communication 

In all, 43 percent of bat encounter residents indicated that they were provided with 

information when they reported their encounter with a bat, and 25 percent sought information after 

the encounter. The type of information they received varied from verbal explanations about rabies 

risks and dangers and safe handling procedures to brochures and other written information. Most 

people who sought more information did so from public health officials (38 percent) or via the 

Internet (21 percent). 

In all, 43 percent of bat encounter residents indicated that they were provided with 

information when they reported their encounter with a bat, and 25 percent sought information after 

the encounter. The type of information they received varied from verbal explanations about rabies 

risks and dangers and safe handling procedures to brochures and other written information. Most 

people who sought more information did so from public health officials (38 percent) or via the 

Internet (21 percent). 

We asked both groups where they had obtained their news and information about bats in the 

past “5 years” (1999–2004; fig. 16). Nearly half of respondents in both groups have relied on 

newspapers and magazines, approximately 40 percent have relied on television, and approximately 

30 percent have relied on friends, neighbors, and family members for their news and information 

about bats. In addition, many bat encounter residents have relied heavily on the Humane Society 

(40 percent of respondents) and public health agencies (18 percent) for information. 

We asked both groups where they had obtained their news and information about bats in the 

past “5 years” (1999–2004; fig. 16). Nearly half of respondents in both groups have relied on 

newspapers and magazines, approximately 40 percent have relied on television, and approximately 

30 percent have relied on friends, neighbors, and family members for their news and information 

about bats. In addition, many bat encounter residents have relied heavily on the Humane Society 

(40 percent of respondents) and public health agencies (18 percent) for information. 

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Newspaper/Magazines

Television

Friends/Neighbors/Family

Other

Internet

Other school/College contacts

Library

School children

Radio

Other recreation/Environmental groups

Government pamphlets/Brochures

Bat experts

Public health agencies

Bat conservation groups

Humane Society

Local business people

Neighborhood association/Community groups

Percent

Figure 16. Sources that Fort Collins, Colo., residents have used for news and information about bats 

in the years 1999–2004. 

19
Conclusions 

There were few meaningful differences between general resident respondents and 

encounter group respondents in Fort Collins. 

We hypothesized that having an encounter with a bat would likely affect attitudes, 

knowledge, and perceptions of risk among residents. We found, however, no meaningful 

differences in these variables between general and bat encounter residents. The only exception to 

this finding was that the bat encounter group perceived a greater risk of a bat using their residence 

for roosting or of getting inside their residence. This response was not unexpected, given that this 

had actually happened to most people in the bat encounter group. Further analysis is needed to gain 

more insight into the reasons as to why this encounter did not affect attitudes, knowledge, or 

perceived risk. 

Residents had a high familiarity with bats but were not knowledgeable about them. 

Nearly all residents (80 percent) were aware of bats in Fort Collins, and nearly three 

quarters of them have seen a bat in town. Their knowledge scores, however, were low on both bat 

ecology and rabies. Residents indicated that they were likely to learn more about the potential 

benefits of bats and the relationship between bats and disease. Residents primarily relied on 

newspapers, magazines, and television for their news and information about bats. The opportunity 

may exist for residents to learn more about bats through such sources, beyond the public service 

announcements and coverage of isolated incidents of a citizen being exposed to a bat. This learning 

opportunity may improve and prove positive given the lack of a prevailing negative attitude toward 

bats and the residents’ interest in learning more about them. 

Residents had positive attitudes and beliefs toward bats. 

Overall, residents had neutral to positive attitudes toward bats. They did not see them as a 

threat or a nuisance and recognized them as beneficial and as an important component of a healthy 

ecosystem. While they liked having bats in Fort Collins, they were more neutral to negative 

regarding bats roosting in close proximity to their residence. It appeared that they tolerated being in 

close proximity to bats. In addition, residents’ attitudes and beliefs about bats were positively 

correlated to their level of knowledge: those with greater knowledge had more positive attitudes 

toward bats. 

Residents’ behaviors toward bats were more likely to benefit than to harm bats. 

Residents were likely to learn more about bats and the relationship between bats and rabies. 

Conversely, residents were unlikely to take measures to harm bats if they were using their 

residence. Again, this seemed to support residents’ tolerance of a species that has traditionally been 

portrayed as threatening and a nuisance. 

Residents had relatively low perceived risk of encountering a bat or contracting rabies from 

bats. 

While possibly overstated, when compared to the literature on risk of bat encounters and 

contracting rabies from bats, residents’ perceived risks were relatively low. Their perceptions of 

risks also were inversely correlated with their attitudes. Those with positive attitudes may have 

20
more realistic perceptions of the risk of disease transmission and be more likely to engage in 

conservation behaviors and mitigation behaviors less harmful to bats. Conversely, those with 

inflated risk perceptions had more negative attitudes and may be less likely to engage in bat 

conservation behaviors and more likely to take intensive actions to be rid of bats. 

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