Rabid Bat In Rock Springs Prompts Vaccination Reminder

Pet and livestock owners are being reminded about the importance of vaccinations after a rabid bat was found in Rock Springs for the first time since 2007.

That's according to a release from the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's spokesman Jason Mower says the bat was found in the yard of a home in North Rock Springs. The homeowners captured the bat and turned it over to animal control to be tested, but the animal died in captivity. An investigation found no evidence that the bat had contact with pets or livestock before being captured.

In Wyoming bats and skunks are the most common carriers of the rabies virus. They can spread the disease through bites and scratches, but touching or handling an infected animal does not pose a threat by itself. The disease is not spread through blood, feces, or urine, unlike some other infectious diseases.

While rabies is deadly, it can be prevented through vaccinations and is treatable after victims are infected.