09/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/26/2024 13:26
Quinault, Wash. - Olympic National Park staff have confirmed that a bat found in the park has tested positive for rabies. The dead bat was found in the breezeway of the Quinault Visitor Center on August 30, one day after a bat was reported to be vocalizing and having difficulty flying in the area. No known human contact has been reported with the bat.
Bats are important parts of the ecosystem, consuming large quantities of insects like mosquitoes and insects that can damage crops or forests. They also pollinate plants and disperse seeds. A small percentage of bats have rabies, which they can transmit to people, usually by exposing people to saliva through a bite or scratch. Rabies can be prevented in humans if you seek immediate medical care, but rabies is fatal if left untreated. Rabies is often fatal to bats, too. If you have questions about possible contact with a bat, contact your healthcare provider or call your local health department (https://doh.wa.gov/about-us/washingtons-public-health-system/washington-state-local-health-jurisdictions).
Any bat that allows you to approach it, is unable to fly, is active during the day, or is found in an unusual place may be sick or rabid and should never be handled. Do not touch or handle any wild animal, dead or alive, especially bats. If you see a wild animal in distress, contact a park ranger or the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Office at: WDFW Enforcement | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
In addition, public health officials recommend the following to keep you and your family safe from rabies: