Rabid bat found in Lincoln Co.

Lincoln County health officials have found a bat that tested positive for rabies.

The bat was found in the Libby area, according to Sarah Long, Disease Intervention Specialist for the Lincoln County Health Department.

“It was alive and there was no human or animal exposure,” Long said in an email. “So, there was no need for post exposure prophylaxis. To be tested for rabies, a specimen must be sent to Bozeman to the Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.”

Long said if someone finds a dead bat, they can bring it into the Health Department and have it sent in. If they can not make it in that day, the bat needs to go into the fridge and NOT the freezer. To test for rabies, the lab has to make slide of the specimen’s brain and freezing it can create ice crystals and make the slides unreadable.

“If a bat is found alive, it is best to try to trap it (or I can) and I can come and get it for euthanasia,” Long said.

At the Wednesday, Aug. 13 county commission meeting, Health Department Director Kathi Hooper said it had learned of five bats that had contact with people or pets.

“One was suspicious, but due to the degradation of the brain, we couldn’t say for sure if it was rabid,” Hooper said. 

But in an Aug. 14 press release from the county Health Department, officials confirmed a bat tested positive for rabies. Residents and visitors are urged to be aware of the risk of rabies exposure.

Rabies is a fatal disease caused by a virus carried in the saliva of infected warm-blooded mammals, typically transmitted through bites. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal—making prompt preventive treatment critical for anyone who may have been exposed.

Bats remain a primary concern in Montana because their bites can be small and go unnoticed. 

“People can be exposed to a bat and not even realize it,” said Sarah Long, Disease Intervention Specialist for the Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD). “If a bat has physical contact with a person or is found in an area where contact might have occurred—such as a bedroom—it should be tested for rabies whenever possible.” 

Anyone who thinks they may have had contact with a bat should call the county Health Department immediately to discuss possible exposure.

If bitten by a domestic dog, cat, or ferret, the animal can usually be observed for 10 days to determine if rabies is present, often avoiding the need for treatment. However, if an animal cannot be located, observed, or tested, a series of rabies prevention shots may be required.

Rabies Prevention Tips from LCHD:

• Avoid contact with wild animals, especially bats. Teach children never to touch wild animals— even dead ones—and to report any bat sightings to an adult.
• Prevent domestic animal bites. Teach children not to approach unknown animals and to ask before petting someone’s pet. Avoid attempting to handle or rescue sick or injured wild or feral animals.
• Vaccinate pets. All dogs and cats should have up-to-date rabies vaccinations. Cats are especially at risk due to their higher contact with wildlife.
• Bat-proof your home. Keep bats out by installing screens on windows, doors, and chimneys. Cover outside entry points with clear plastic sheeting or bird netting to prevent roosting.
• Report abnormal animal behavior. Wild animals are typically wary of humans. Seeing bats or skunks during the day, or any animal acting unusually, should be reported to local law enforcement.

For more information or to report a possible rabies exposure, contact the Lincoln County Health Department at 406-283-2467.