Rabid Bat Found In Naperville Prompts Animal Control To Urge Caution

NAPERVILLE, IL — A rabid bat was found in Naperville, prompting animal control to urge residents to take precautions around bats.

The bat was found in the 2200 block of River Woods Drive "earlier this week," according to a news release from the Naperville Police Department on Sept. 26.

Residents who find bats inside their houses should avoid touching the animal and should seal off the room or space the bat was in, so it doesn't get to other parts of the home. If you find a bat, call Animal Control at 630-420-6178 or notify the Naperville Police Department by calling 630-420-6666 to get a professional to remove the bat from the premises.

If you have a pet, its recommended to keep them updated on their rabies inoculations.

In August, DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) announced that a bat had tested positive for rabies. As of early August, 68 residents had been advised to get treatment for possible exposure to rabies.

Bats are the number one source of rabies in the state, according to DCHD, but skunks, raccoons and feral mammals may carry the disease. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports that less than five percent of bats who are tested for rabies test positive and fewer than one percent of all bats test positive for rabies.

According to the IDPH, there are 13 different species of bats in Illinois. Most often, residents are likely to encounter little and big brown bats, silver-haired bats and eastern red bats.