NEWS RELEASE
BOULDER COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
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A bat found near Riverside Drive in Lyons on June 5 has tested positive for rabies.
A resident discovered the infected bat on their deck and contacted Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) who conducted a risk assessment and collected the dead animal for rabies testing. This is the first animal to test positive for rabies in Boulder County in 2023.
“Exposure to rabies happens most commonly when people or pets interact with wildlife, pick up a bat off the ground or try to remove it from their home or property,” said Marshall Lipps, Boulder County Public Health Environmental Health Specialist. “Finding a bat hanging under the eaves of a house, under a porch overhang or hidden behind shutters or gutters is normal. However, you should not touch them. If there’s any chance that you, your child or your pet has come in contact with a bat, contact us as soon as possible by calling 303-441-1564.”
Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system and is almost always fatal unless treated before symptoms appear. Exposure to rabies is generally the result of a bite or scratch by an infected animal, and it is sometimes practically undetectable, such as a tiny puncture of the skin by a bat. Treatment for rabies exposure involves a series of vaccinations.
Public health officials recommend that the following precautions be taken to reduce the risk of exposure to rabies:
- DO NOT handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. Contact animal control to collect the animal.
- Thoroughly wash any wound caused by an animal with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
- Keep vaccinations current for all dogs, cats and ferrets. Keep cats and ferrets inside and dogs under direct supervision.
- Contact your local public health department or animal control if people or pets have been bitten or exposed to a bat.
- If a bat has come into contact with a person or domestic animal, place a container over it and call dispatch so an animal control officer can collect it for rabies testing.
On average, about 15% of bats submitted for rabies testing test positive for the disease. Other wild animals that may carry rabies include skunks, raccoons and foxes.
Residents who find a bat in their home should call dispatch and ask to be connected to animal control
For questions about human contact with a bat, call the Colorado Health Information Line at 1-877-462-2911.
For general information about rabies, visit https://www.boco.org/rabies.
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