COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH) shared Wednesday that a bat found in Colorado Springs had tested positive for rabies, making it the first animal in the county to test positive for the disease in 2025.
According to county health officials, a person came in contact with the bat on Saturday, and the animal was sent off for testing. That test came back positive on Tuesday.
The health department said the person who touched the bat is receiving treatment to prevent getting the disease.
EPCPH said that while human exposure to animals infected with rabies is rare, they want to remind the public to avoid contact with wild animals, teach children not to interact with wild animals and keep pets on a leash to prevent exposure to the disease.
“Adults, and especially children, who see a sick or injured animal may naturally want to help,” Dr. Bernadette Albanese, co-medical director of El Paso County Public Health, said. “It’s important not to touch wild animals and to warn children of the dangers of wildlife encounters. Animals that are sick or injured should be reported to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The public should be particularly cautious in the summer months when people spend more time outdoors.”
EPCPH said if you’ve had contact with a wild animal, particularly if you’ve been bitten or scratched, you should talk with a health care professional to determine your risk for rabies or other illnesses.
The health department went on to say because bats have small teeth and bite marks may disappear quickly, you should seek medical advice and make a report to EPCPH if you have any kind of physical encounter with a bat.
Click here for more rabies prevention tips from El Paso County Public Health.
The health department said last year, six animals tested positive for rabies in El Paso County. All of them were bats.
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