Risks
In Washington state, bats are the animal most likely to be infected with rabies.
Most bats do not carry rabies and bats play an important role in the ecosystem. Do not kill, hunt or capture bats in the wild and do not keep bats as a pet. Bats generally try to avoid contact with humans.
If you have direct contact with a bat (such as a bite or scratch), there is potential for rabies. Public health and your health care provider can determine if post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is recommended.
Worldwide, dog bites carry the greatest risk of rabies. In the United States, bats carry the greatest risk. Dogs and cats are routinely vaccinated for rabies in the United States. Preventive vaccination for pets reduces the risk to people.
Most bats do not carry rabies and bats play an important role in the ecosystem. Do not kill, hunt or capture bats in the wild and do not keep bats as a pet. Bats generally try to avoid contact with humans.
If you have direct contact with a bat (such as a bite or scratch), there is potential for rabies. Public health and your health care provider can determine if post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is recommended.
Worldwide, dog bites carry the greatest risk of rabies. In the United States, bats carry the greatest risk. Dogs and cats are routinely vaccinated for rabies in the United States. Preventive vaccination for pets reduces the risk to people.
Capturing bats
If a bat had direct contact with a person or pet, you can try to capture the live bat. When attempting to capture the bat, wear leather or rubber gloves. Use a net, shovel, rake or other object to avoid touching the bat.
If you wake up and a bat is in the room, assume that you had direct contact with a bat. Bat bites and scratches can be very small and may go unnoticed. Safely capturing a bat for testing can tell you if you need post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
In order to test for rabies, the bat's brain must be in good condition. Do not capture or harm the bat in a way that damages the skull as it may prevent rabies testing.
If you wake up and a bat is in the room, assume that you had direct contact with a bat. Bat bites and scratches can be very small and may go unnoticed. Safely capturing a bat for testing can tell you if you need post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
In order to test for rabies, the bat's brain must be in good condition. Do not capture or harm the bat in a way that damages the skull as it may prevent rabies testing.
I found a bat in my yard or home. Now what?
Never pick up the bat with your bare hands. Use leather or rubber gloves when handling a bat. When possible, use a net, shovel, tennis racket or other object to avoid touching the bat directly.
If you or a pet had direct contact with a live bat, you can try to capture the bat. However, be careful when capturing the bat so you do not get a bite or scratch. If your pet may have had contact with the bat, quarantine the animal and contact public health.
If you are certain that the dead bat never came into contact with a person or household pet, you can throw the dead bat away in the garbage. Put the bat into a plastic bag and throw it away. Use rubber or leather gloves and use a shovel or net or other object to avoid touching the bat.
Do not attempt to capture a bat unless a person or pet had direct contact with the bat. If the bat is inside your home, use a net, tennis racket, shovel or other object to direct the bat to an open door or window.
If you or a pet had direct contact with a live bat, you can try to capture the bat. However, be careful when capturing the bat so you do not get a bite or scratch. If your pet may have had contact with the bat, quarantine the animal and contact public health.
If you are certain that the dead bat never came into contact with a person or household pet, you can throw the dead bat away in the garbage. Put the bat into a plastic bag and throw it away. Use rubber or leather gloves and use a shovel or net or other object to avoid touching the bat.
Do not attempt to capture a bat unless a person or pet had direct contact with the bat. If the bat is inside your home, use a net, tennis racket, shovel or other object to direct the bat to an open door or window.
My cat or dog is playing with a bat. What do I do?
If a household pet has come into contact with a bat, capture the bat if it is safe to do so. Be careful to avoid getting a bit or scratch when capturing the bat. Use leather or rubber gloves and avoid directly touching the bat. Quarantine the pet and contact public health.
To quarantine the pet, put them in a room or crate by themselves. Continue to feed your pet and provide plenty of clean water. You may need to quarantine the animal for up to 10 days.
There is not a treatment for rabies for animals but the preventive vaccine is extremely effective. Keeping your pet's rabies vaccine current is important to protect them from rabies. Rabies shots for animals are given every 1-3 years. Keeping your pet's rabies vaccine up to date can help a person avoid PEP if they are bitten by your pet.
To quarantine the pet, put them in a room or crate by themselves. Continue to feed your pet and provide plenty of clean water. You may need to quarantine the animal for up to 10 days.
There is not a treatment for rabies for animals but the preventive vaccine is extremely effective. Keeping your pet's rabies vaccine current is important to protect them from rabies. Rabies shots for animals are given every 1-3 years. Keeping your pet's rabies vaccine up to date can help a person avoid PEP if they are bitten by your pet.