We’ve reported on two rabid bats identified in recent weeks, one at a park in Renton and one in Seattle’s University District. Warmer weather means bats come out of hibernation, and it’s not unusual to have reports of rabid bats this time of year. We receive between 70 to 100 reports of people being exposed to bats in King County each summer, and on average for the past five years, we send 45 bats each year for rabies testing. From 2021-2025, an average of 2 bats from King County test positive for rabies each year.
If you had contact with a bat, or even woke up in a room with a bat inside, report the exposure to Public Health at: 206-296-4774. You should also call your medical provider immediately.
Any person or animal that touched or had contact with the bat or its saliva could be at risk of getting rabies, which is almost always fatal once symptoms begin. Fortunately, rabies can be prevented if treatment is given before symptoms appear.
If you see a bat, do not touch it!
It is estimated that less than 1% of bats are infected with rabies. Bats with unusual behaviors, including inability to fly, flying during the daytime, making a lot of noise or otherwise acting sick, are more likely to have rabies. Healthy bats rarely approach humans.
But since you cannot tell if a bat has rabies by looking at it, it’s safest to assume that any bat could have it. Never touch a bat!
Touching a bat or its saliva–including being scratched or bitten–could put you at risk for rabies exposure. You are also at risk if you wake up with a bat in your room because people don’t always wake up if touched or bitten. Teach your kids not to touch bats and be sure to keep your pets away from bats.
If you think you or your children or pets may have touched or had contact with a bat, take immediate action:
- Wash the area that came into contact with the bat thoroughly with soap and water.
- Contact your medical provider as soon as possible.
- Call Public Health: 206-296-4774 to report the exposure and assess whether you might have been exposed to rabies and whether the bat should be tested for rabies
If you find a bat inside your house
- If the bat hasn’t not come into contact with a person or pets: Close doors to other parts of your home and secure pets away from the location of the bat. Open windows and allow bats to leave your home.
- If you think you had contact with a bat, or if someone wakes up from sleeping with a bat in the room: try to trap it safely so it can be tested for rabies. Wear thick gloves and never handle a bat with bare hands. More information on how to safely catch a bat and have it tested for rabies can be found on Public Health’s bats and rabies webpage.
Pets are at-risk for getting rabies from bats, too
In Washington State, all dogs, cats and ferrets are required to be up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. Vaccinate your pets for prevention. Talk to your veterinarian to see if your pet needs to update their rabies vaccine.
If you suspect your pet has come into contact with a bat, call your veterinarian, even if your pet is up to date on its vaccinations. Your veterinarian may need to give it a booster shot to protect it!
Never touch or feed wild animals
In Washington state, bats are the main animal known to be carry rabies. Rabies is extremely rare in other animals in Washington. Still, it’s important to avoid contact with unfamiliar animals.
- Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans, uncovered compost bins, or pet food left outside.
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Call animal control, an animal rescue agency or wildlife rehabilitator like PAWS Wildlife Center for assistance with sick wild animals.
- Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
- Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood.
Keep bats out of your home
If you have problems with bats getting inside your house, you can do a lot to make your home more bat-proof. Putting screens on windows can prevent bats from accidentally flying into your home. Sometimes, bats are attracted to nesting in attics or inside a wall. The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife has excellent tips on easy things you can do to your home or building to prevent bats from getting inside.
Bats also help us
Bats are a vital part of our local ecosystem. Bats eat large amounts of night-flying insects like mosquitos, termites, and agricultural pests, reducing the risk of mosquito-related diseases and the need for pesticides in our community. We need bats to fill this important role.
It’s best to keep your distance from bats as a precaution, both for their sake and for yours.
More information
For more information about bats and rabies: Bats and rabies in King County, Washington state – King County, Washington
Originally published July 30, 2026.
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