Lately, more people in Spokane have reported run-ins with bats. This isn’t unusual. When the weather warms up, both people and bats get more active. While bats are a helpful part of nature, they can sometimes carry diseases like rabies. Let’s look at what we can all do to stay safe. 

Bats Are Good, But They Can Be Risky: Bats pollinate plants, spread seeds, and eat bugs. But some bats also carry rabies, a very serious disease that can spread through bites or scratches and is fatal if left untreated. Luckily, not all bats have rabies. In fact, in Washington state, only 15 out of 255 bats tested in 2024 had rabies. Still, it’s something to watch out for, since bats are the main carriers of rabies in our state. 

Bites from Dogs or Cats: Any mammal can get rabies, but it’s very rare in pets like dogs, cats, or ferrets in Washington. If you’re bitten, here are some questions to ask: 

• Has the pet been living in this area for the past 6 months? If it has lived somewhere else, there may be additional questions to ask based on which animals are likely to spread rabies in the area it was living.
• Has it been around bats, other wild animals such as racoons, or outside alone?
• Was it acting sick or strange before the bite?
• Is it up to date on rabies shots?
• Can someone watch the animal for 10 days to see if it stays healthy? 

If the animal stays healthy for 10 days, you likely don’t need treatment for rabies. 

Bitten by a pet? 
Call Spokane County Animal Control at 509-477-2533. 

Bitten by any animal (wild or domestic)? 
Call SRHD at 509-324-1560 ext. 7 or visit srhd.org/report-a-bite. 

If a doctor or public health worker thinks there’s a high risk of rabies, you’ll need a series of shots over two weeks that work really well but are expensive and not needed unless the risk is high. People who work with animals often (like vets or wildlife workers) should think about getting a rabies shot ahead of time, just in case. 

Report it, even if you don’t think anyone was bitten. If you can safely catch the bat (without touching it!), call SRHD. They may be able to test it so you can avoid getting rabies shots. Wear thick gloves and use a tool such as a small shovel to pick it up and put it into a container with air holes - never use your bare hands.