Missoula Animal Services Issues Reminders After Two Bats Test Positive for Rabies

Following two recent positive rabies tests for bats in the Missoula area, Missoula Animal Services is reminding residents how to handle bat exposures and to vaccinate their cats and dogs against rabies.

Rabies is a serious but preventable disease that affects the brain and nervous system. It’s almost always fatal once symptoms appear but can be prevented with quick medical treatment after exposure and by ensuring pets are vaccinated.

Area bats are the most common rabies carriers in Missoula County, but unvaccinated pets like cats and dogs, as well as stray animals, can also carry the virus. Owners whose pets are not vaccinated or whose vaccinations have expired should contact their veterinarian to get them vaccinated as soon as possible.

Residents who encounter a bat should take the following precautions:

• Never intentionally touch or try to handle a bat, whether it’s alive or dead.
• If you unintentionally come into contact with a bat, treat it like a possible rabies exposure and seek medical care as soon as possible. Bat bites can be small and undetectable, and treatment may be necessary even if there is no obvious bite. This guidance also applies if a bat is found in a room with a child or someone who was asleep, unattended or is cognitively impaired.
• If you discover a bat in a residence, or a bat acting unusual in a public area, call Animal Services at 406-541-7387.
• Report all possible human exposures to the Missoula Public Health Infectious Disease Department by calling 406-258-3896. All possible pet exposures should be reported to Missoula Animal Services by calling 406-541-7387.

“While human rabies exposure is still incredibly rare, with these recent test results, we want to make sure people know what they should and shouldn’t do if they encounter a bat, indoors or outside,” said Animal Services Manager Holli Hargrove. “Animal Services is here to help, and we want folks to feel prepared and educated if they find themselves in this situation.”

More information on rabies is available online at https://missoulapublichealth.org/communities/current-health-issues/rabies/.