A bat found northeast of Durango earlier this week has tested positive for rabies. There was a human interaction with the bat, and this individual is receiving post-exposure prophylaxis to protect from developing rabies.
In Colorado, rabies occurs mainly in skunks and bats. Other mammals can be infected with rabies from bats and skunks. Domestic animals such as dogs, cats, cattle, and horses can become infected by being bitten by a rabid animal. Interaction between humans and wild animals, particularly bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons, increases the risk of rabies exposure to pets and people. If you see wildlife that is acting unusual, call La Plata County Animal Protection at 970-385-2900 or SJBPH at 970-247-5702 immediately.
San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) urges residents to stay away from stray and wild animals, check pets’ vaccination status, and take other precautions to avoid rabies. The vaccine can prevent companion animals from getting rabies from wildlife and possibly exposing your whole family to the disease.
Rabies is spread primarily through the bite of rabid animals. It is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms appear. People who have been bitten or scratched by an unfamiliar animal should contact their health care provider immediately to reduce the risk of rabies.
To avoid rabies:
- Never touch or feed wild or stray animals. Don’t leave pet food outdoors. If you see a sick or orphaned animal, do not touch it; instead contact La Plata County Animal Protection.
- Vaccinate your pets. Use a licensed veterinarian, and make sure you keep up with pets’ booster shots.
- Leash your dog. Protect dogs and wildlife by keeping your pet on a leash while walking or hiking.
- Keep cats and other pets inside at night. Keep dogs within your sight (in a fenced yard or on leash) during the day while outside.
- Call your veterinarian promptly if you believe your pet has been exposed to a wild animal.
- Vaccinate pastured animals annually. Have a licensed veterinarian administer an approved large-animal rabies vaccine.
- Avoid all contact with bats, especially bats found on the ground. If you find a bat on the ground, don’t touch it.
- Bat-proof your home. Information is available at www.cdc.gov/rabies/bats/management.
- If a bat has been present in a room in which people have been sleeping, it is important that the bat is safely trapped and tested for rabies. If a bat cannot be tested or there are multiple bats in the home, post-exposure treatment of anyone living in the home is recommended. Please contact SJBPH for guidance on safe capture, testing of bats, and follow-up.
To recognize sick wildlife:
- Many healthy wild animals are normally afraid of humans; sick animals often do not run away when spotted by people.
- Wildlife with rabies may act aggressively or will violently approach people or pets.
- Some rabid animals are overly quiet and passive and want to hide. Don’t bother them.
- Rabid wildlife might have trouble walking, flying, eating, or drinking.
