Dozens of Utahns seek rabies treatment following bat encounters in Idaho, warning issued

SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — In the past two months, dozens of Utah residents traveled to Idaho where they were in close proximity to bats, prompting a public warning from local health officials.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services said dozens of Utahns from across the state visited Idaho and either slept in a cabin with bats or had direct contact with one. They are now currently being evaluated or getting preventative treatment for rabies.

Rabies — a highly fatal disease

Due to the fatal risk of contracting rabies — even without knowing it — Utah health authorities released a public service announcement warning Utahns to be aware of a few things.

First, health officials are reminding residents that while it is a small percentage, bats are still the most common carriers of rabies, a disease that is nearly 100% fatal in humans after symptoms develop. They say preventative treatment is crucial in saving someone’s life once they have been infected.

Rabies can spread through a bite, scratch, or saliva, however, officials say because a bat’s teeth and claws are often small, “a bat bite or scratch may not leave a mark or even be felt.”

For that reason, anyone who has slept in the same room as a bat or been in contact with one should be assessed by a medical professional.

Next, officials say to never touch a bat — dead or alive — with your bare hands. If you need a bat removed from an area, contact the local animal control office or the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Finally, if someone has been scratched or bitten by any animal, the health department says to wash the wound, call animal control to capture the animal for testing, and seek professional help.

Bats in Utah

While the most recent concerns stem from contact with bats in Idaho, Utah has more than a dozen species of bats located across the state. Utah’s bat species mostly eat insects and can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes a night, according to Wild Aware Utah .

The conservation group said contrary to popular belief, bats rarely attack humans. A bat inside a room “may appear to dive at people,” however that behavior is meant to help the bat gain speed and control.

In Utah, bats are a protected wildlife species which means it is illegal to kill them, even if they are roosting in your home, according to DWR .

If you need help safely removing bats from your property here is a list of resources . If you believe you may have been in contact with a bat, you can use this online assessment tool .

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