Fish and Game Urges Caution with ill Bats and Raccoons in the area
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Wildlife officials are urging southeastern Idaho residents to exercise caution after a bat in Bannock County tested positive for rabies, and a raccoon in Pocatello tested positive for canine distemper.
Idaho Fish and Game and Southeastern Idaho Public Health are tracking the cases and are encouraging people to be aware and know the best practices for dealing with sick or unusually bold wildlife.
Bats and Rabies: What to Watch For
Bats will typically be seen near water or lamps to feed on insects, or occasionally to roost in a location like a building, tree, on patio furniture or a woodpile. In May, Southeastern Idaho Public Health announced it tested a bat positive for rabies, which officials say isn't uncommon.
"We know that bats can get rabies and once they contract the virus, they are going to die from it, so people should not be alarmed," said Tessa Atwood, volunteer services coordinator with Idaho Fish and Game. "They're not perpetual carriers of the virus so it shouldn't be any kind of fright for people."
Most of the time, Fish and Game says a bat roosting outside somewhere can be left alone and it will move on within a few hours. However, if the bat is in a vulnerable position where it may have contact with people or pets, there are safe guidelines for moving the bat.
"You should never handle one without gloves, preferably leather gloves. You should have long sleeves and long pants on," Atwood said. "When you capture it, you can place a small paper box, or a bucket or something like that over the top of it and then slide a piece of cardboard underneath, and then just kind of move it out of the way, to a better location."
Atwood said people are welcome to call the Fish and Game regional office with concerns, however, if the animal isn't going to cause any harm to people or pets, they'll probably suggest they leave it alone. If there has been direct contact with the bat or a suspected contact, it's best to call your physician.
"If you have a bat in your home and you suspect that a person in the home or a pet has come in contact with the bat, that can be by a scratch or if somebody in the home was asleep and they're just unaware of maybe they had contact, it's good to contact your physician or your local health department," Atwood said.
She added that a physician will give guidance on how to move forward and may ask the person to collect the bat for sampling. In order to test for rabies, they need the specimen. If you come across a bat that looks sick, injured, weak or lethargic, Fish and Game can give you guidance on what to do next. If you're suspicious of your pet coming in contact with a bat, it's best to call their veterinarian.
"It's really common for cats to come and want to show off a bat they caught outside. We would advise that you contact your veterinarian immediately if a situation like that happens and keep up on your pet vaccinations for distemper and rabies," Atwood said.
Distemper Outbreak in Local Raccoons
Fish and Game has also received multiple calls over the past several weeks regarding raccoons in the area acting sick and lethargic, even appearing in broad daylight. They said more carcasses are being sent out for testing.
"The best prevention is to keep your animals on a leash, keep them up to date with their vaccinations, and keep things like pet food and bird feeders cleaned up for a few weeks," Atwood advised.
Officials say if people see a raccoon while hiking the trails around Pocatello and Chubbuck or out in a nature area, it's best to give the animal space. However, if it's in a backyard and residents are worried about letting their pets outside, Fish and Game can help.
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