A bat in Routt County has tested positive for rabies, according to the Routt County Public Health Department. 

The health department reported Friday that a Routt County resident found a bat in their condo on Monday and captured the bat before delivering it to the department. The bat was euthanized and sent to Colorado Department Public Health and Environment where it tested positive for rabies Thursday. 

“It is important to remember that bats play an important role in our ecosystem, and most bats do not have rabies. This is just a reminder to be aware of the risks associated with wildlife especially when they are behaving abnormally or are in your living space,” said Susan Madigan, a nurse with the health department. “Routt County has a contact, treatment and mitigation plan when a positive rabies test occurs. At this point, additional test results from other bats (positive or negative) do not change our initial actions.”  

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It is transmitted through saliva and the incubation period is commonly three to six weeks. Rabies is a highly fatal disease for humans, but Colorado has not had a human case since 1931, according to Routt County Public Health. 

Bats are the most commonly reported animal to have rabies in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Possible signs of a bat having rabies include it being active during the day, found in a home or on the ground, or unable to fly and easy to approach. 

Those who see strange bat behavior should call animal control. Any contact with bats should be reported to Routt County Public Health by calling 970-870-5341. For more, CDC.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html.