DeKALB – October and the Halloween season conjures images of bats for many people.

But for Greg Maurice, director of environmental health with the DeKalb County Health Department, knows the nocturnal creatures are more than a scary prop in a haunted house or a scary decoration for trick-or-treaters.

Bats are a natural part of the ecosystem and aren’t a nuisance in and of themselves. However, if the animals find their way into homes, it could lead to a series of rabies vaccinations for people exposed to infected bats.