Update on Third Bat Found in Sheridan

On Monday, July 3, Cole Benton, President of the The Sheridan County Predator Management District (SCPMD) said that a third bat was recently tested and confirmed with the rabies virus in Sheridan.

Benton said the bat had been reported to Paul Herman, Rabies Mitigation Officer. Herman said that a man found the bat, and the man’s grandmother handled the rabid bat without gloves.

Benton added that he wasn’t sure if the woman had to undergo the rabies vaccine or not, as it was not reported that she had been bitten. In addition to the bats, seven skunks have tested positive for rabies so far this spring. He added that Sheridan County is still the highest rabies county in Wyoming.

Two of the bats that tested positive were in the 5^th Street area of Sheridan, one by the hospital and one on Sheridan Avenue.

The best advice, Benton said, is if one sees a sick animal is to ‘leave it alone and call either Paul Herman, who is the rabies Mitigation Officer at 307-751-1412; The Wyoming Game and Fish at 307-672-7418 or Alan Plummer, the Sheridan County Trapper, at 307-751-6012

“Consider all animals as possible rabies carriers, especially foxes, raccoon, skunks and bats,” Benton said.

Vaccination is one key to help to prevent rabies in humans and pets. If an unvaccinated pet is bitten by a rabid animal, the outcome is nearly always fatal, and should be considered as such.

The Department of Health recommends that anyone who experiences direct, physical contact with a bat or other possible rabid animal should immediately contact their healthcare provider or their local public health nursing office for help and further information.

If possible, any sick wild animal that comes into contact with humans should be carefully captured, by a professional, so that rabies testing can be performed.

A longer version of this story was posted last week on Sheridanmedia.com