Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) are reminding people to stay safe around bats. Bats are an important part of Oregon’s environment, but they can sometimes carry rabies—a serious virus that affects the brain.
So far in 2026, 20 bats in Oregon have tested positive for rabies. At this rate, the state may see more rabies-positive animals than any year on record. Bats have carried rabies for thousands of years, though usually at low levels, and they are the most common source of human exposure in the United States.
Since 2000, the highest number of animals that tested positive for rabies in Oregon was in 2006—22 bats and two foxes. In 2023, 20 bats tested positive.
Bats rarely bite people, and Oregon bats only eat insects—about 1,000 insects every hour. They do important work, like controlling insects, spreading seeds, and pollinating plants that support farms and forests. They can even help reduce diseases by eating mosquitoes and other pests.
Why people should avoid touching bats
Experts say the more contact someone has with bats, the higher the chance of being exposed to rabies. People often pick up a bat because they want to help it or because they are curious, but a sick or dying bat is more likely to bite or spread the virus in other ways.
What to do if you find a bat
Bats are protected wildlife, which makes it illegal to harm or keep them. If you see a bat that appears to be sick:
- Stay calm, do not touch it, and keep people and pets away.
- When the sick or dead bat is outdoors and may have exposed someone to rabies, cover it with a box or bucket if safe to do so. Finding a dead bat does not require any action unless someone was bitten or scratched before the bat died.
- When the sick or dead bat is indoors, do not release the bat. It may have exposed someone or a pet to rabies. If safe to do so, place a container or box over the bat.
- Contact your local health authority or veterinarian for your area right away to discuss potential exposures to humans or pets.
- If there are multiple sick or dead bats observed in an area, report it to ODFW.
- If a person or pet has been bitten or scratched by an animal that may have rabies, report it immediately to your local animal regulation services or local public health authority. Seek care immediately from a medical provider or veterinarian.
- Teach children to avoid all contact with bats and other wildlife.
- Avoid bats seen in the wild.
- Make sure your pets’ vaccinations are up to date. Unvaccinated pets that come into contact with a bat may be quarantined for up to four months, or euthanized.
- Protect your home from bats by covering vents, chimneys, and other entry points with screens.
If you have nesting bats living in your attic or other areas of your house, call a wildlife control operator. ODFW is unable to respond to homeowner requests for bat removal.
Find additional information about rabies and bats at: