Dozens Of Rabid Bats Have Been Found In Illinois Lately

The Illinois Department of Public Health has a warning for you.

According to the Illinois DPH, there have been over two dozen cases of rabid bats reported in Illinois so far this year. Some of them have been found in the QCA. The 27 rabid bats were found in 14 Illinois counties, including Rock Island, Bureau, Clark, DeKalb, Macon, McLean, Peoria, Sangamon, Wayne, and Will. Five rabid bats were found each in Kankakee and Lake Counties, 4 were in Cook County, and 3 were in McHenry County.

The danger is that these bats could've spread the disease to other animals, since exposure from bats is more common in July and August. This includes foxes, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and other wild animals. You should also have your dogs and cats vaccinated for rabies too.

If you see a bat that's active during the day, you find it on the ground, or if it can't fly, then it's more likely to be rabid.

There are 13 bat species in Illinois but the Big Brown Bat (pictured above), Little Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat, and Silver-Haired Bat are the most common.

You might find bats in little crevices, attics, or somewhere with openings greater than 1/4 of an inch. Bats can get in your home via open windows, doors, chimneys, or any gaps around pipes.

If you do find a bat in your house, especially now, don't touch it. Call animal control to remove any bats you find in your house. If it's safely captured by experts, it can be tested to see if it was rabid.