Minneapolis Animal Care & Control (MACC) is sounding the alarm on bats as a potential rabies hazard in the community. With several reports of bats entering homes and some testing positive for rabies, MACC is pushing for pet owners to take preventive measures by ensuring their furry friends are vaccinated against the deadly disease. "Pets are like young children. They're vulnerable and can't speak to tell us if they come close to a bat or just see it from across a room," MACC Director Tony Schendel emphasized in a statement obtained by the Minneapolis official website.
When a pet is exposed or even bitten, MACC advises that, regardless of vaccination status, owners should quickly seek a rabies booster within 72 hours of the incident. Confinement or even quarantine may be required, the duration of which varies depending on the situation. An unvaccinated pet that comes into contact with a bat may be impounded by MACC until the bat can be tested and confirmed to be rabies-negative. Schendel cautioned, "Vaccinations save lives. We don't want our residents to be in a position where they have to surrender their pets or worse, say goodbye to them because they weren't vaccinated."
To aid pet owners, MACC is planning to roll out low-cost vaccine appointments soon. In the interim, there are several locations within the city and the Twin Cities metro offering services. For instance, Creekview Recreation Center welcomes walk-up appointments on the third Sunday of each month, while VeTouch requires scheduled appointments on the first Sunday of each month. The urgency is underscored by the fact that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) considers July through mid-September as the peak bat-human interaction period—the time when bats often seek out warmer places like human homes as temperatures begin to drop.
Human exposure to bats, although rare, can be serious. MDH recommends taking immediate action if a person is bitten or suspects they've been exposed to a bat. "If a bat can’t be tested, it’s recommended you receive the rabies shots," senior epidemiologist and rabies surveillance coordinator with the MDH, Carrie Klumb, advised according to the Minneapolis official website post. She also shared preventive advice to help homeowners keep bats out, such as sealing any dime-sized openings and considering professional bat removal services if necessary.
Dealing with bats requires safety and care. If a bat encounter does happen, officials from MACC urge the public not to handle the animals themselves but to safely capture them and call 911 for professional help. A bat should be tested if a person has been bitten, has had physical contact, wakes to find a bat in their room, or if an uncommunicative individual like a young child is found in a room with a bat. MACC can be contacted for assistance at 612-673-6222, and further information is available via the Minnesota Animal Bites and Rabies Hotline at 651-201-5414 or toll-free at 1-877-676-5414.
