Rabies and Bats
What is rabies
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the nervous system of mammals, including humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife. Although human cases are rare in the United States, rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Prompt medical care after a possible exposure can prevent illness.
Rabies is usually spread through the bite of an infected animal. It can also spread if saliva from a rabid animal enters a scratch, open wound, or the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent rabies in pets and domestic animals, so it is important to keep pets current on their rabies shots. In South Dakota, skunks and bats are the primary wildlife reservoirs for rabies. However, most bats are not rabid. From 1998–2007, 2,112 bats were tested for rabies in South Dakota, and about 3% tested positive.
Rabies is usually spread through the bite of an infected animal. It can also spread if saliva from a rabid animal enters a scratch, open wound, or the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent rabies in pets and domestic animals, so it is important to keep pets current on their rabies shots. In South Dakota, skunks and bats are the primary wildlife reservoirs for rabies. However, most bats are not rabid. From 1998–2007, 2,112 bats were tested for rabies in South Dakota, and about 3% tested positive.
if you may have been exposed
If you have been bitten your scratched
Contact your physician or local public health agency immediately. They will determine whether rabies post-exposure treatment is needed.
If it can be done safely, capture the bat for rabies testing. Do not handle bats with bare hands. Contact animal control, public health officials, or another appropriate agency for guidance.
If you may have been bitten or scratched
Contact your physician or local public health agency right away, even if you are unsure. Bat bites and scratches can be very small and may go unnoticed.
A bat found in a room with a sleeping person, unattended child, person with a disability, or pet should be treated as a possible exposure until a medical provider or public health official advises otherwise.
If possible, safely capture the bat for testing. Testing can help determine whether rabies treatment is necessary.
Contact your physician or local public health agency immediately. They will determine whether rabies post-exposure treatment is needed.
If it can be done safely, capture the bat for rabies testing. Do not handle bats with bare hands. Contact animal control, public health officials, or another appropriate agency for guidance.
If you may have been bitten or scratched
Contact your physician or local public health agency right away, even if you are unsure. Bat bites and scratches can be very small and may go unnoticed.
A bat found in a room with a sleeping person, unattended child, person with a disability, or pet should be treated as a possible exposure until a medical provider or public health official advises otherwise.
If possible, safely capture the bat for testing. Testing can help determine whether rabies treatment is necessary.
if you find a bat in your home
First, determine whether any person or pet may have had contact with the bat. If exposure is possible, do not release the bat until you have contacted a physician, public health agency, animal control officer, or veterinarian.
If you are confident no exposure occurred, confine the bat to one room by closing interior doors. Open windows or exterior doors, turn off ceiling fans, and keep people and pets out of the room so the bat can leave on its own.
If the bat does not leave or must be removed, do not touch it with bare hands. Use thick gloves or a container-and-cardboard method, or contact animal control or a wildlife professional for assistance. If no exposure occurred and testing is not needed, the bat can be released outdoors away from people and pets.
If you are confident no exposure occurred, confine the bat to one room by closing interior doors. Open windows or exterior doors, turn off ceiling fans, and keep people and pets out of the room so the bat can leave on its own.
If the bat does not leave or must be removed, do not touch it with bare hands. Use thick gloves or a container-and-cardboard method, or contact animal control or a wildlife professional for assistance. If no exposure occurred and testing is not needed, the bat can be released outdoors away from people and pets.
Collecting a bat for testing
Use the following precautions to protect yourself and to capture the bat safely:
1. Collect the following materials: thick leather gloves, small box/coffee can, cardboardsheet, strong tape.
2. Put on the gloves!
3. Approach the bat slowly - place the box/can over the top of the bat.
4. Slide the sheet of cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside
5. Tape the cardboard to the container securely, and punch small holes in the lid so that the bat can breathe (= fresh sample).
6. If there is a wound of any kind, clean it with soap and a povidone-iodine solution, if one is handy.
7. Seek prompt, professional medical treatment!
When submitting a specimen
1. Do not damage the head of the animal by gunshot or crushing.
2. Specimens must be reasoanably fresh - do NOT freeze the body!
3. Fill out the submission form and email to [email protected]
4. Samples arriving after 11 am will be tested the next business day.
1. Collect the following materials: thick leather gloves, small box/coffee can, cardboardsheet, strong tape.
2. Put on the gloves!
3. Approach the bat slowly - place the box/can over the top of the bat.
4. Slide the sheet of cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside
5. Tape the cardboard to the container securely, and punch small holes in the lid so that the bat can breathe (= fresh sample).
6. If there is a wound of any kind, clean it with soap and a povidone-iodine solution, if one is handy.
7. Seek prompt, professional medical treatment!
When submitting a specimen
1. Do not damage the head of the animal by gunshot or crushing.
2. Specimens must be reasoanably fresh - do NOT freeze the body!
3. Fill out the submission form and email to [email protected]
4. Samples arriving after 11 am will be tested the next business day.
Testing facilities in south dakota
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Address: Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory 1550 Medary Ave., Box 2175 South Dakota State University, Brookings SD 57007
Phone: 605-688-5171 Email: [email protected] |
Additional Resources
Center for Disease Control – https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html
Center for Disease Control – https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5702.pdf
SD Department of Health – 2024 Rabies Report
SD-Department of Health – Rabies Fact Sheet
NASBR – Resolution regarding bats and rabies
Center for Disease Control – https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5702.pdf
SD Department of Health – 2024 Rabies Report
SD-Department of Health – Rabies Fact Sheet
NASBR – Resolution regarding bats and rabies
White-nose Syndrome (WNS)
What is wns
White-nose syndrome, often called WNS, is a fungal disease that affects bats during hibernation. It has caused severe declines in several North American bat species, but current evidence indicates that the fungus does not infect humans.
WNS gets its name from the white fungal growth that may appear on the muzzle, wings, ears, or tail of infected bats. The disease is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or Pd. This fungus grows well in cold, humid environments, such as caves and mines where bats hibernate during winter.
WNS was first documented in New York during the winter of 2006–2007 and has since spread across much of North America. Millions of bats have died from the disease. As of recent national tracking, WNS has been confirmed in many U.S. states, including South Dakota, as well as several Canadian provinces.
WNS gets its name from the white fungal growth that may appear on the muzzle, wings, ears, or tail of infected bats. The disease is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or Pd. This fungus grows well in cold, humid environments, such as caves and mines where bats hibernate during winter.
WNS was first documented in New York during the winter of 2006–2007 and has since spread across much of North America. Millions of bats have died from the disease. As of recent national tracking, WNS has been confirmed in many U.S. states, including South Dakota, as well as several Canadian provinces.
What does WNS do
WNS damages the delicate skin of a bat’s wings, muzzle, ears, and tail. Damage to the wing membranes can interfere with hydration, circulation, and temperature regulation. Infection also disrupts hibernation by causing bats to wake more often during winter. Each time a bat wakes, it uses valuable fat reserves. Because insects are unavailable, infected bats may run out of energy before spring and die from dehydration, starvation, or exposure.
WNS spreads primarily from bat to bat, especially when bats gather in hibernation sites. People can also accidentally move fungal spores on shoes, clothing, or equipment after entering caves or mines. Following decontamination guidelines and respecting cave closures can help slow its spread.
Declines in bat populations can affect people because bats provide important ecosystem services, especially by consuming insects. Many species feed on agricultural pests, mosquitoes, moths, beetles, and other insects. Large declines can reduce natural insect control and increase costs for farmers and land managers. National estimates suggest that bats save the U.S. agricultural industry billions of dollars each year through pest control.
WNS spreads primarily from bat to bat, especially when bats gather in hibernation sites. People can also accidentally move fungal spores on shoes, clothing, or equipment after entering caves or mines. Following decontamination guidelines and respecting cave closures can help slow its spread.
Declines in bat populations can affect people because bats provide important ecosystem services, especially by consuming insects. Many species feed on agricultural pests, mosquitoes, moths, beetles, and other insects. Large declines can reduce natural insect control and increase costs for farmers and land managers. National estimates suggest that bats save the U.S. agricultural industry billions of dollars each year through pest control.
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WNS in South Dakota
White-nose syndrome has been confirmed in South Dakota. Continued monitoring helps biologists track where the disease occurs, which bat species are affected, and how bat populations are changing over time.
You can help protect bats by avoiding closed caves and mines, cleaning gear after visiting underground sites, and reporting sick or dead bats to the appropriate wildlife or public health agency. Never handle bats with bare hands.
For more information, visit resources from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bat Conservation International, and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
You can help protect bats by avoiding closed caves and mines, cleaning gear after visiting underground sites, and reporting sick or dead bats to the appropriate wildlife or public health agency. Never handle bats with bare hands.
For more information, visit resources from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bat Conservation International, and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
West-Nile Virus (WNV)
What is wnv
West Nile virus, often called WNV, is a mosquito-borne virus that is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus circulates naturally between birds and mosquitoes, especially Culex mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds and can then spread the virus to people, horses, and other mammals.
People and horses are considered “dead-end hosts,” meaning they do not develop enough virus in their blood to spread it back to mosquitoes.
People and horses are considered “dead-end hosts,” meaning they do not develop enough virus in their blood to spread it back to mosquitoes.
what does wnv do
Most people infected with West Nile virus do not become sick. About 1 in 5 people develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. In rare cases, West Nile virus can cause severe illness affecting the central nervous system, including meningitis or encephalitis.
Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of severe disease. West Nile virus can also be serious in horses, and vaccination is an important prevention tool for horse owners.
Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of severe disease. West Nile virus can also be serious in horses, and vaccination is an important prevention tool for horse owners.
wnv in South Dakota
West Nile virus was first detected in the United States in 1999 and is now established across much of the country. Cases are most common during mosquito season, especially in late summer.
South Dakota and other Great Plains states have experienced some of the highest West Nile virus incidence rates in the country. Mosquito activity and virus transmission are influenced by temperature, precipitation, standing water, and seasonal conditions.
Bats are important insect predators in South Dakota and may eat mosquitoes, but mosquitoes usually make up only a small part of their diet when larger insects such as moths, beetles, and flies are available. While bats contribute to natural insect control, the best way to reduce West Nile virus risk is to prevent mosquito bites and reduce mosquito breeding areas.
You can help reduce mosquito populations by emptying standing water from buckets, tires, bird baths, gutters, flowerpots, and other containers. You can also reduce your risk by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants when mosquitoes are active, and repairing window and door screens.
For more information, visit the South Dakota Department of Health or CDC West Nile virus resources.
South Dakota and other Great Plains states have experienced some of the highest West Nile virus incidence rates in the country. Mosquito activity and virus transmission are influenced by temperature, precipitation, standing water, and seasonal conditions.
Bats are important insect predators in South Dakota and may eat mosquitoes, but mosquitoes usually make up only a small part of their diet when larger insects such as moths, beetles, and flies are available. While bats contribute to natural insect control, the best way to reduce West Nile virus risk is to prevent mosquito bites and reduce mosquito breeding areas.
You can help reduce mosquito populations by emptying standing water from buckets, tires, bird baths, gutters, flowerpots, and other containers. You can also reduce your risk by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants when mosquitoes are active, and repairing window and door screens.
For more information, visit the South Dakota Department of Health or CDC West Nile virus resources.