Rabid bat scratches Glacier Park resident

A rabid bat scratched a park resident in the St. Mary area of Glacier National Park last Thursday, according to a press release from the Glacier County Health Department.

The event was the first known case of a rabid bat in Glacier Park this year, and the affected individual is currently undergoing a series of rabies vaccinations.

The encounter comes about one week after the Flathead City-County Health Department identified the first rabid bat of the season in the county. Department officials noted at the time they have seen a “significant increase in the number of reported human and domestic animals contact/interactions with bats and skunks.”

Glacier National Park, partner health agencies and National Park Service wildlife veterinarians collectively urge people to educate themselves on rabies risks in bats and skunks — two animals that are known for carrying the disease.

If a bat or skunk has had human contact, it’s vital to safely capture the animal and submit it for rabies testing. Without testing, “it is impossible to tell if the animal is carrying rabies, and the exposed person should undergo a preventative series of rabies vaccinations for humans.”

There is no cure for rabies once a human contracts it.

“Rabies is not something that most people think about on a regular basis,” Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said. “However, if you come into physical contact with a bat, it’s important to know that there are resources available to you and testing procedures you must follow to protect your health and that of your family.”

The press release stressed that living sustainably alongside bats is very possible.

Most of the bat roosts in the St. Mary park area are maternity roosts and due to the time of year, pups (babies) still cannot fly. Bats typically leave in September, and after that, park staff will seal any indoor roost spaces they find.

Park officials noted that while bats pose a rabies risk in humans, they are also vital to ecosystems because they eat nighttime insects and agricultural pests. Since bats typically only have one pup per year, survival of that pup is important for sustaining the population.

People exposed to a bat or skunk should be aware of testing protocols and should contact their local health department immediately. In order to test a bat or skunk, the brain/head must be intact and must be refrigerated, not frozen, until sent for testing.