Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A wild bat found on a sidewalk of a southeast South Dakota zoo has tested positive for rabies.
KELO-TV (http://bit.ly/1LL9RA8 ) reports the state's Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory tested the bat after a zookeeper at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls found it on Wednesday. Officials believe the bat had no human contact.
Elizabeth Whealy is the zoo's president and CEO. She says any wild animal found on zoo grounds that is "acting abnormally" is submitted for rabies testing.
Whealy adds that although this is a "relatively low-risk situation" for zoo guests, the facility is working with the Department of Health to notify the public as a precautionary measure.
All zoo animals are vaccinated against rabies.
___
Information from: KELO-TV, http://www.keloland.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
