A bat found earlier this month in the back yard of a home in an unincorporated area near St. Charles has tested positive for rabies, according to Kane County Animal Control and the Kane County Health Department.
This is the first rabid bat reported in the county since 2024, when two bats tested positive for rabies. There have been 53 rabid bats in the state so far this year, according to figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The bat was found in the back yard of the home on Aug. 16, a news release from Kane County Animal Control and the health department said. The positive rabies result was confirmed by the state’s Department of Public Health.
Anyone who has been bitten by a bat or had a potential exposure to a bat should contact a medical provider or the health department at 630-208-3801 as soon as possible, the news release said. Because bats have very small teeth, a bite may not always be visible or easily recognized, and finding a bat in a home or workplace could also be considered a potential exposure, especially if there’s a possibility someone had contact with the animal.
In light of the confirmed case, Kane County Animal Control is also encouraging residents to ensure dogs and cats are up to date on their rabies vaccinations, keep pets on a leash or supervise them while outdoors and avoid handling bats or other wild animals, even if they appear sick, injured or dead.