Since the start of the school year, about six bats have been found at Edgerton Elementary School in Puyallup. Teachers spotted the first two in a hallway on Sept. 14, after which school staff removed them; one employee may have come into contact with the animals. The school district consulted with the Tacoma–Pierce County Health Department. Over the following two weeks, several more bats were found — including two by overnight custodians, one near the door to a maintenance room and one dead inside it. No other contact with people has been reported.
While specialists determine how the animals are entering the building — through doors, windows, ventilation systems or other openings — the school is inspecting its facilities daily. Administrators believe the bats have not established a permanent roost inside. To prevent them from getting in, pest-control specialists have been hired to seal gaps and install protective measures, including door sweeps, new ceiling panels and mesh screens. Cameras are also being installed, windows and doors are being inspected, and areas where the animals were found are being cleaned and disinfected. Students are prohibited from touching or trying to catch bats: if they encounter one, they should move away and notify a staff member. Parents are advised to contact a doctor if a child reports contact with an animal, since the Washington State Department of Health recommends evaluating any potential exposure.
Based on: Bats found at Puyallup elementary school