A bat captured in the Bayhead Road area of Bayou George in Bay County has tested positive for rabies. This is the sixth Bay County animal testing positive for rabies in 2014. A rabid raccoon was killed in the Brandeis Avenue area of Panama City in May. Rabid raccoons were also captured or killed in the Lynn Haven, Cedar Grove, and High Point areas of Bay County this year. The Florida Department of Health in Bay County reminds residents to avoid contact with bats. Bats are beneficial and legally protected flying mammals that may eat more than one-half of their body weight in insects a night. Bats also are considered a high-risk animal when it comes to rabies. Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm blooded animals, including humans. Most bats naturally avoid human contact, but will bite if picked up or are otherwise threatened. Very few bats have rabies, but those infected are more likely to be on the ground and in other locations where humans or their pets may encounter them. If you find a bat on the ground, do not touch it. Keep your pets and children away from it. Many bats cannot easily fly from the ground and must crawl up something to gain enough elevation to fly. During this time they are vulnerable to cats and dogs. Keep your pets’ rabies vaccinations up-to-date. Bats have very small teeth. If a pet or human has physical contact with a bat, even though a bite may not be readily visible, the bat must be tested for rabies. If you find a bat in your house or if any person or pet has physical contact with a bat, contact the Florida Department of Health in Bay County at 850-872-4720 ext. 1125.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 13:50:29 +0000
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