Bat found in La Plata County home tests positive for rabies

A bat found in a home in the Bayfield area last week tested positive for rabies. While a bite has not been reported, the humans and pets living in the home are receiving post-exposure and preventive treatment. 

Rabies is regularly found in Colorado wildlife, especially skunks and bats. Interaction between humans and wild animals, particularly bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons, increases the risk of rabies exposure to pets and people. If you see wildlife that is acting unusual, call La Plata County Animal Protection at 970-385-2900 or Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife at 970-247-0855 immediately. 

San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) urges residents to stay away from stray and wild animals, check pets’ vaccination status, and take other precautions to avoid rabies. The vaccine can prevent companion animals from getting rabies from wildlife and possibly exposing your whole family to the disease. 

Rabies is spread primarily through the bite of rabid animals. It is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms appear. People who have been bitten or scratched by an unfamiliar animal should contact their health care provider immediately to reduce the risk of rabies. 

To avoid rabies: 

• Never touch or feed wild or stray animals. Don’t leave pet food outdoors. If you see a sick or orphaned animal, do not touch it; instead contact La Plata County Animal Protection. 
• Vaccinate your pets. Use a licensed veterinarian, and make sure you keep up with pets’ booster shots. 
• Leash your dog. Protect dogs and wildlife by keeping your pet on a leash while walking or hiking.
• Keep cats and other pets inside at night. Keep dogs within your sight (in a fenced yard or on leash) during the day while outside. 
• Call your veterinarian promptly if you believe your pet has been exposed to a wild animal. 
• Vaccinate pastured animals annually. Have a licensed veterinarian administer an approved large-animal rabies vaccine. 
• Bat-proof your home. Information is available at www.cdc.gov/rabies/bats/management. 
• If a bat has been present in a room in which people have been sleeping, it is important that the bat is safely trapped and tested for rabies. If a bat cannot be tested or there are multiple bats in the home, post-exposure treatment of anyone living in the home is recommended. Please contact SJBPH for guidance on safe capture, testing of bats, and follow-up. 

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