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SALT LAKE CITY — Health officials are warning residents to avoid contact with wild animals after a bat found in Salt Lake City tested positive for rabies.
In a news release Thursday, the Salt Lake County Health Department said only a small percentage of bats carry rabies, but residents should avoid contact because rabies can only be confirmed with a laboratory test after an animal has died.
The Salt Lake Valley is home to several species of bats, and other species migrate through the area, so it is not unusual to find bats hanging upside down from buildings or trees. Officials said healthy bats generally avoid people and pose no threat to humans.
Rabid bats, on the other hand, "may behave unusually, such as entering areas they would usually avoid or spending time on the ground," the news release states. "They may also be weak, dehydrated or unable to fly, making them more approachable than usual."
If you find a bat on the ground or other unusual place, health officials say to do the following:
- Do not touch it.
- Keep children and pets away.
- Report the bat's location to your local animal control agency.
Officials also say to call the county health department at 385-468-4222 to be evaluated for receiving the rabies vaccine if you've had contact with a bat, or if a bat has been inside the living area of your home.
A similar incident occurred earlier this week when the TriCounty Health Department received reports of a possibly diseased bat at Dinosaur National Monument on or around May 28. That department is looking for any visitors who may have had contact with the bat.
