Rabid Bat Found Near Albany: One Small Warning Could Prevent a Deadly Exposure

The post ” Rabid Bat Found Near Albany: One Small Warning Could Prevent a Deadly Exposure first appeared on Crafting Your Home

ALBANY, Ore. A bat found near Albany tested positive for rabies, reminding Oregon residents that an encounter with wildlife can become a serious health concern even without an obvious bite.

Linn County officials said the bat was found in the Albany area on Sept. 22 and tested positive for rabies, as reported Sept. 23 by the Salem Statesman Journal and NBC 16.

The finding comes as Oregon is already experiencing an unusually high number of rabies-positive bats this year.

The Oregon Health Authority reported that 22 bats had tested positive for rabies statewide as of July 30, 2026. That matched the state’s highest annual total for rabid bats since 2000. The Albany case occurred after that statewide figure was reported.

For residents, the issue is not whether every bat carries rabies. It is knowing what to do when people or pets may have been exposed.

Oregon’s Rabies Numbers Are Already Unusually High

Bats are Oregon’s natural rabies carrier, according to the Oregon Health Authority.

The state’s 22 positive bats recorded by July 30 matched the previous annual high recorded in 2006. That year, Oregon also reported two rabid foxes.

Oregon State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory separately reported 22 rabies-positive bats as of July 27, compared with 11 during all of 2025.

The figures provide statewide context for the Albany case, but they do not establish that the city or surrounding area is experiencing a rabies outbreak.

No source reviewed for this story reported that a person contracted rabies from the Albany bat.

Why Health Officials Take Bat Contact Seriously

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system and is almost invariably fatal once symptoms develop, according to the Oregon Health Authority.

The disease is preventable after an exposure when appropriate medical treatment is provided before symptoms begin. That makes prompt evaluation important after a possible bite or scratch.

Rabies is transmitted through infected saliva. Bites are the most obvious route, but scratches can also present a risk when saliva contaminates broken skin.

A bat bite can also be difficult to recognize, which is why health officials consider the circumstances surrounding an encounter rather than relying solely on whether someone remembers being bitten.

What To Do If A Bat Gets Inside

Oregon Health Authority recommends avoiding direct contact with bats and keeping children and pets away. Residents should not attempt to pick up or handle a bat simply because it appears injured or helpless.

If no human or pet contact has occurred, OHA says residents can close interior doors, open windows, and let the bat leave.

If contact may have occurred, residents should contact their local health authority rather than simply releasing the bat. The animal may need to be safely captured and tested.

The distinction is especially important when a bat is found in a bedroom.

OHA says health officials may consider post-exposure treatment when a bat has had access to an unattended young child, a person who was asleep, someone impaired by alcohol or drugs, or another individual who might not be able to recognize or report physical contact.

Pets Need Protection, Too

Dogs and cats can encounter bats before their owners realize there has been contact.

OHA recommends keeping pets’ rabies vaccinations current, whether they live indoors or outdoors.

If a pet has contact with a bat, owners should contact a veterinarian and follow guidance from local animal-health authorities.

The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association also recommends discussing rabies vaccination with veterinarians and reporting wildlife that displays unusual or aggressive behavior to the appropriate authorities.

What The Albany Case Does and Does Not Show

The positive test confirms that at least one rabid bat was found in the Albany area.

It does not establish that rabies is spreading among Albany residents, that every local bat is infected, or that an outbreak has been declared.

OHA says rabies occurs at relatively low levels among bats, even though bats are the state’s natural reservoir for the virus.

That distinction is important as residents respond to the news.

The appropriate response is caution, not panic.

The Safest Response Is Simple

Anyone who encounters a bat should keep people and pets away from it and avoid direct contact.

If someone is bitten or scratched, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical advice promptly. If exposure cannot be ruled out, residents should contact their local health authority for guidance.

Do not handle a grounded or dead bat casually. When exposure has occurred, contact health officials because the animal may need to be tested.

The Albany finding comes at a notable point in Oregon’s 2026 rabies surveillance, with the state already reporting a historically high number of positive bats.

But the most important fact for residents is also the simplest: a rabid bat does not have to become a human case. Prompt action after a possible exposure can make the difference.

For Albany residents, knowing that before the next wildlife encounter may be far more valuable than reacting after one occurs.

This version removes the repeated warnings and keeps the public-health guidance concentrated in the sections where readers need it most.