Officials at Olympic National Park in Washington State have confirmed a dead bat found in the breezeway of the Quinault Visitor Center has tested positive for rabies. The bat was discovered on August 30th one day after reports of a bat behaving erratically in the area. The bat was “vocalizing and having difficulty flying in the area.”
Bats play an important roll in the Olympic ecosystem pollinating plants and controlling insect populations but they are also known vectors for rabies which can be fatal to humans if not treated immediately.
“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.” -Olympic National Park
The type of bat that tested positive for rabies was not specified. Olympic National Park is home to 11 species of bats. According to the CDC you should avoid touching bats. If you’re bitten or scratched by a bat, wash the wound with soap and water and get medical help immediately. If bat saliva or brain material gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound seek professional health care urgently.
The following video is a comprehensive lecture on “Bat Research on the Olympic Peninsula”
image credit wikimedia.org
