A rabid bat was found in Seattle on July 15, 2026, on the sidewalk of University Way Northeast, between NE 41 and NE.st. and SV 42nd streets. It’s near Parrington Lawn, on the University of Washington campus, and is a vibrant area with many businesses.
Anyone who may have had physical contact with this bat (even if not bitten) may be at risk and should immediately seek medical attention or call Public Health at 206-296-4774 to determine if rabies preventive treatment is needed.
Rabies is a life-threatening disease, but it can be prevented if treated before symptoms appear.
The bat was first identified on July 15, 2026. Public Health – Seattle and King County have received several public calls regarding the bat and have advised people to contact animal control. On July 16, 2026, the bat was euthanized by the animal control agency. Public Health tested the bat for rabies and tested positive on July 17, 2026.
Public Health confirmed that callers reported that the bat had not made physical contact with her. To date, no other people are known to have been exposed to this bat. If you have been in contact with this bat, call the health department or seek medical attention immediately.
Who is at risk
Any person or animal that touched or came into contact with a bat or its saliva could be at risk of contracting rabies, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Fortunately, rabies can be prevented if treatment is started before symptoms appear.
“Rabies is treatable if detected before symptoms appear, so it is important to identify anyone who has been in contact with the bat as soon as possible,” said Jocelyn Mullins, a public health veterinarian with Public Health Seattle and King County. “Contact includes touching the bat, being bitten or scratched, or any other contact of bare skin with the bat or its saliva.”
Rabies and pets
If your pet may have had contact with this bat, contact your veterinarian immediately. Dogs, cats, ferrets and horses should be vaccinated against rabies, but will need to be revaccinated if they have been exposed to a bat. The best way to prevent rabies in pets is to make sure they are up to date on their rabies vaccination.
More about rabies
Rabies is dangerous, but it can be prevented if treated before symptoms appear.
- If someone has been exposed to a bat, treatment may prevent infection. This treatment should be carried out as soon as possible.
- Rabies is a viral disease of the central nervous system that is almost always fatal when symptoms first appear.
- The virus is found in the saliva of an animal with rabies and is usually transmitted through a bite or scratch. Because rabies is a life-threatening disease, immediate medical attention should be sought if the bat comes into contact with people or animals.
If you find a bat
If you see a bat on the street, do not touch it. If you are concerned that your bat is sick, call animal control. Find animal control services in your area.
If you find a bat in your home, call Public Health at 206-296-4774 to discuss the situation and determine whether the bat needs to be tested for rabies. Public Health tests bats for rabies free of charge under certain circumstances.
Open windows and allow bats to leave your home if they have not been in contact with humans or pets. Close doors to other parts of your home and keep pets away from the bat’s location.
If the bat has had direct contact with the bare skin of a person or pet, OR if a person wakes up and sees a bat in the room they were sleeping in, the bat should be captured and may need to be tested for rabies. Use a shovel or thick gloves to place the dead bat in the testing box. Don’t throw it away!
For more information on how to safely catch a bat in your home and how to safely avoid bats, visit: kingcounty.gov/bats.
Originally published July 17, 2026