Lately, more people in Spokane have reported run-ins with bats. This isn’t unusual. When the weather warms up, both people and bats get more active. While bats are a helpful part of nature, they can sometimes carry diseases like rabies. Let’s look at what we can all do to stay safe.
Bats Are Good, But They Can Be Risky: Bats pollinate plants, spread seeds, and eat bugs. But some bats also carry rabies, a very serious disease that can spread through bites or scratches and is fatal if left untreated. Luckily, not all bats have rabies. In fact, in Washington state, only 15 out of 255 bats tested in 2024 had rabies. Still, it’s something to watch out for, since bats are the main carriers of rabies in our state.
Bites from Dogs or Cats: Any mammal can get rabies, but it’s very rare in pets like dogs, cats, or ferrets in Washington. If you’re bitten, here are some questions to ask:
- Has the pet been living in this area for the past 6 months? If it has lived somewhere else, there may be additional questions to ask based on which animals are likely to spread rabies in the area it was living.
- Has it been around bats, other wild animals such as racoons, or outside alone?
- Was it acting sick or strange before the bite?
- Is it up to date on rabies shots?
- Can someone watch the animal for 10 days to see if it stays healthy?
If the animal stays healthy for 10 days, you likely don’t need treatment for rabies.
What to Do If You’re Bitten:
Bitten by a pet? …