Officials with the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls said two bats on its campus have tested positive for rabies.
The bats were found on August 20. Animal care staff removed them from a structure near the farm and transferred them to the zoo's vet clinic. The bats were then sent to the SDSU Diagnostic Laboratory for examination and rabies testing.
Rabies is a fatal, but preventable viral disease. It's contracted typically through a bite from a rabid animal. Great Plains Zoo veterinarian Jenny Clementson said none of the staff are at risk for contracting the disease.
According to the state Department of Health, South Dakota has reported eight rabid bats statewide in the first half of this year. Since 2013, 79 bats have tested positive for rabies in the state.
