Why it matters:
• Bats are important to Oregon’s ecosystem.
• Bats can carry rabies, a deadly disease that spreads through bites and scratches or infected saliva through an open wound. Both animals and people can be infected with rabies.
How can you lower your risk of exposure:
• Don’t touch bats whether you think they are healthy or sick, alive or dead.
• Keep kids and pets away from bats.
• If there is a dead bat on your property, wear thick gloves and use a box or baggie to contain the carcass without touching the bat. Retain the bat carcass for testing if there has been exposure.
• Vaccinate all pet dogs, cats and ferrets against rabies. Include indoor-only pets, as bats do come into houses and pets often catch them.
• If bitten or scratched, seek medical attention immediately and report it to your local health department.
Who to contact and why:
• If there is NO EXPOSURE: Call Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife if you find live or dead bats on your property for safe removal options.
• If there IS EXPOSURE:
– If livestock or your pet has been exposed, contact the veterinarian that treats your animals.
– If a person has been scratched or bitten by a bat, contact the Tillamook County Public Health Department at 503-842-3943 immediately.
– Make arrangements with your local urgent care or ER to begin prophylactic treatment until the bat has been tested for rabies.
