Dead Bat at Bentwood Tests Positive for Rabies

The City of San Angelo Animal Services department has announced that recently, a rabies exposure occurred after a dog came into contact with a deceased bat in the Bentwood Country Club & Estates neighborhood. Subsequent testing confirmed that the bat tested positive for rabies. They stated that proper medical, health, and safety protocols were enforced and followed for those affected.

Officials offered some tips to reduce risk and help prevent the spread of rabies:

• Keep your pets updated on their rabies vaccination
• Avoid approaching or feeding wildlife such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bats, or skunks
• Secure garbage and pet food to avoid attracting wild animals
• Avoid contact with bats.

If a bat gets inside your home, or you come across a grounded or injured bat, contact Animal Services immediately at 325-657-4224.

Seek medical attention immediately for any bites or scratches from a wild animal. Do not touch sick or injured animals and report unusual animal behavior. If you care for community cats, avoid feeding at dusk and dawn to avoid attracting wildlife.

Only place enough food for the cats to avoid leaving leftovers. Practice responsible trapping and vaccinations regularly.

The Department of State Health Services reminds us that bats have been increasingly implicated in wildlife reservoirs for variants of rabies virus that have been transmitted to humans.

For more information on rabies control, visit https://bit.ly/43cK4Bk