A rabid bat turned up last Friday near homes by the Skokie Lagoons in Glencoe, and county officials are wasting no time sounding the alarm. The bat was found near the 400 block of Grove Street, collected, and sent to the Illinois State Public Health Laboratory for testing, where it came back positive for rabies. In response, officials are urging residents in the north suburbs to double-check their pets’ rabies vaccinations and to keep dogs, cats and ferrets leashed when outside.
How the bat was discovered and tested
According to NBC Chicago, the bat was discovered last Friday near Glencoe homes and submitted to the Illinois State Public Health Laboratory, which confirmed it was infected with rabies. The outlet reports this is the second bat in Cook County to test positive this year and notes that officials have urged pet owners to get animals that are not current on their rabies shots vaccinated "immediately."
Cook County's alert and resources
The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control is warning residents not to touch bats, skunks or other wild animals, alive or dead. Instead, they are asking people to call the department at (708) 974-6140 if they find dead wildlife on their property. The county’s rabies prevention page features an interactive map showing locations of bats that have tested positive and notes Cook County typically sees around 25 rabid bats per year.
What the risk looks like
The CDC reports that only a small share of bats sent in for testing are confirmed to have rabies, roughly 6 percent in recent national surveillance. Still, public health experts emphasize that any possible exposure is a serious matter because rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms start. Officials say anyone who thinks they may have been exposed should talk to a medical provider, and pet owners should reach out to animal control or a veterinarian for next steps.
Steps for pet owners
For pet owners in Glencoe and nearby suburbs, the message is straightforward: confirm your animals’ rabies vaccinations are current, keep pets leashed when outside, and book an appointment with a veterinarian or county clinic if shots have lapsed. If you or your pet had any direct contact with the bat, contact your medical provider and local animal control right away. For county help, call (708) 974-6140 or visit the Cook County rabies page.
