Wild animals can carry the deadly rabies virus. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Wild animals can carry the deadly rabies virus. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)www.jirivaclavek.cz

A bat tested positive for rabies in Montezuma County last week, according to a news release from the Montezuma County Public Health Department, emailed to The Journal by the county’s public information officer, Vicki Shaffer.

Rabies can be common among wildlife life foxes, skunks, raccoons, and bats. Interactions with these animals can increase risk of rabies exposure, even for indoor pets.

Check your pet’s rabies vaccination status to reduce risks of exposure to rabies. Stay away from wild animals and take other precautions to keep pets safe, the news release urged.

Rabies are spread through bites of rabid animals, and “is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms appear,” the news release stated. People bitten or scratched by an unfamiliar animal should contact their health provider immediately.

The Journal reached out to the health department and spoke with Julie Jacobson. She told the reporter that the bat was found in the daytime, displaying abnormal behavior.

“Nocturnal animals like bats and skunks shouldn’t be seen in the daytime,” Jacobson said. If a nocturnal animal like this is found during the day and is displaying abnormal behavior, it should be reported to the health department.

Jacobson was unwilling to disclose where the bat was found within the county.

The health department shared tips to avoid rabies, including:

Never feed or touch stray or wild animals, and don’t leave pet food outdoors. Contact Animal Control if you see a sick animal.Vaccinate pets and keep up with boosters.Keep pets on leashes while walking or hiking.Call a veterinarian if your animal was in contact with a wild animal.Keep pets inside at night and within sight in the day time while outside.Bat-proof homes. Information about bat management is available here.If a bat is found in a home while people are sleeping, trap the bat and try to have it tested for rabies. If testing is not possible, post-exposure treatment is recommended. Contact the health department for guidance on trapping and testing of bats and follow-up treatments.

The Montezuma County Public Health Department can be contacted at (970) 565-3056.