Three bats found in Boulder County have recently tested positive for rabies. The bats were found in separate locations across the county and were submitted for rabies testing by Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) after being discovered by residents. This discovery highlights the importance of avoiding direct contact with wild animals and keeping pets’ rabies vaccinations current.

“Exposure to rabies happens most commonly when people or pets interact with wildlife, pick up a bat off the ground or try to remove it from their home or property,” said Carly Wilson, Boulder County Public Health Environmental Health Specialist. “Finding a bat hanging under the eaves of a house, under a porch overhang or hidden behind shutters or gutters is normal. However, you should not touch them. If there’s any chance that you, your child or your pet has come in contact with a bat, contact us as soon as possible by calling 303-441-1564.”

Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system and is almost always fatal unless treated before symptoms appear. Exposure to rabies is generally the result of a bite or scratch by an infected animal, and it is sometimes practically undetectable, such as a tiny puncture of the skin by a bat. Treatment for rabies exposure involves a series of vaccinations.

Public health officials recommend that the following precautions be taken to reduce the risk of exposure to rabies:

- Do not handle unfamiliar animals, whether wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. Contact animal control to have the animal collected.

- Thoroughly wash any wound caused by an animal with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.

- Keep vaccinations current for all dogs, cats and ferrets. Keep cats and ferrets inside and dogs under direct supervision.

- Contact BCPH or animal control if people or pets have been bitten or exposed to a wild animal.

- If a bat has come into contact with a person or domestic animal, place a container over it and call dispatch so an animal control officer can collect it for rabies testing.

On average, about 15 percent of bats submitted for rabies testing test positive for the disease. Other wild animals that may carry rabies include skunks, raccoons and foxes.

Residents who find a bat in their home should call dispatch and ask to be connected to animal control.

For questions about human contact with a bat, call the Colorado Health Information Line at 1-877-462-2911. For general information about rabies, visit www.boco.org/Rabies.

Read about the discovery of bats with rabies in 2019 in Longmont in the The Mountain-Ear ONLINE HERE!