With three bats in Sioux Falls testing positive for rabies in one month, officials encourage pet owners to make sure their pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations.
According to Animal Control Supervisor Patty Beckman, finding bats in the home is a common occurrence. She said that last year 559 bats were reported to animal control.
However, out of the reported bats, only four actually tested positive with rabies.
Beckman explained that it is easy for pets to come in contact with a rabid bat.
“When bats are either injured or sick, they are not as mobile as they would be normally if they were healthy, so they are easier for pets to catch,” she said.
According to the South Dakota Department of Health, typically only one or two bats per year test positive with rabies in Sioux Falls.
“There is a slight concern with there being three bats within a month testing positive, but you know, we could potentially not have any more positives this year,” Beckman said. “So, we’re just gonna watch the results on the specimens that we send in and just make sure that there’s not an increase.”
The city said there is no need to panic if a bat is found at home. Officials suggest enclosing the bat in a room and calling Animal Control at the non-emergency number 367-7000.