A bat rescued from drowning in Shelley Lake has tested positive for rabies, marking Raleigh’s third confirmed rabies case this year.
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According to the Raleigh Police Department, residents rescued the struggling bat from the water on Thursday and attempted to transport it to a wildlife rehab in Charlotte. The bat died in transit and was brought back to Raleigh, where the city’s Animal Control officers submitted it for testing.
Officers confirmed that the bat tested positive for the rabies virus. Health officials said there was minimal to no physical contact between the bat and the two people who rescued it.
Both individuals and the local health department have been notified of the positive test results, according to Raleigh police.
This is the second bat to test positive for rabies in Raleigh, and the city’s third case overall. Earlier this year, a bat found acting abnormally at a Biddlestone Court residence tested positive after coming into contact with a person and two dogs, according to the city.
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Statewide, health officials are also managing a rabies scare involving a mobile petting zoo. In late August, the state Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that four baby goats from Farm Adventures Mobile Petting Zoo contracted the virus after a skunk got into their pet in late July. The infected goats traveled to different private events in the state including in Durham County.
Wake County health officials are reminding residents to take standard precautions to minimize the risk of rabies exposure. Rabies is a potentially deadly viral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, most commonly through a bite.
To protect families, officials advise:
Residents who see animals displaying unusual behavior should report it to the Raleigh Police Department Animal Control at 919-831-6311.
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