03/01/2026
Rabies is not a rare virus in our area. While most of the rabid animals we see come in showing signs of rabies and are promptly euthanized to limit suffering, some patients do not show any signs at all.
This silver-haired bat came to us as a transfer from another rehabilitator after being found out and weakly responsive in the freezing cold. Thankfully the finder did not handle this bat with bare hands or report any other exposures.
This bat was in care with the other rehabilitator about a week before we admitted him as a patient. We did note this bat had one small puncture on his wing membrane, but we had no concerns about that being able to heal on its own. After a few days of evaluation, we transferred this bat out to another partner rehabilitator who helps us immensely by overwintering bats that are no longer in need of intensive care or hospitalization.
After a week or two with this rehabber, the bat suddenly became difficult to feed and was losing weight. The bat was transferred back to us and we noted that he was more irritable compared to intake. We treated for possible pain that could be causing this behavior, but the irritability persisted despite being on pain medications. The bat was not only unwilling to eat on his own, but he would spit out any food that we hand fed. Unfortunately, we saw no improvement over multiple weeks, and finally we elected to euthanize this bat as his condition continued to decline.
Despite no rehabilitators nor the finders being exposed, we decided to report this bat’s decline to the local health department. The signs and decline were consistent with rabies although it is quite abnormal that we have bats in care for multiple weeks test positive. Considering the number of rehabbers that had handled and treated this bat (even with proper protection), they elected to test for rabies. And this bat’s testing came back positive.
We hear from many finders that the animal they’ve brought to us “is not rabid because they are not biting, stumbling, or foaming at the mouth”. Although classic signs in a high-risk vector species are highly suggestive of rabies infection, lack of signs DOES NOT rule out rabies as a diagnosis. It is also important to note that there is no known confirmed incubation period for wild animals, as we have for common domestic species. This is why health departments often elect to test rather than quarantine for observation as they might with a dog or cat.
In some cases, animals can be infectious (able to spread rabies via their saliva) even before obvious signs of rabies. As seen in this bat, it can take longer than expected to show signs and this can vary by species or by individual. Once displaying signs of rabies, the infected animal may not die soon after, as seen in this bat (and other cases we’ve witnessed). An animal that appears healthy could still spread the disease if people or domestic animals are bitten or scratched by these animals.
This is one reason why we communicate the importance of not handling animals with bare hands, recommend using personal protective equipment (PPE) or other protective measures, and ask thorough questions about exposures when people bring us mammal patients.
This is why it's SO important to answer honestly when rehabilitators, health departments, or other medical professionals ask about potential exposure events.
This is why our facility (per permit requirements) only allows rabies-vaccinated individuals to handle rabies vector species, uses PPE when handling these animals, and requires reporting of ANY mammal bites or scratches to the health department (including the rare events when our staff or volunteers are exposed). This helps ensure the safety of all humans involved in care.
Please keep yourself and wild animals safe by contacting rehabilitators BEFORE intervening. Do not touch wildlife with bare hands, follow the advice of rehabilitators closely if they ask you to help contain an animal, and please respond honestly when filling out intake forms or speaking with health department officials.
We have very few cases of rabies in humans in the U.S., but it is NOT due to a lack of rabies. We are fortunate to have professionals who take this fatal disease seriously and go to great lengths to ensure exposed humans and domestics are provided with timely recommendations and treatment. The low rate of human rabies cases here in the U.S. relies on YOU respecting wildlife, behaving responsibly, and reporting any exposures.
