Bats, Bites & Rabies
Submit Reports
All animal bites and exposures to bats should be reported to Washtenaw County Health Department. Call us at 734-544-6700.
Health care providers should fill out the Bite Report Form (PDF) and fax it to 734-544-6706.
If you find a bat in your house, please don't let it go until without talking to us. We provide case-by-case consultation regarding the need for post-exposure prophylaxis (rabies vaccine).
Rabies Testing
The Health Department also coordinates rabies testing for animals. Call 734-544-6700 during business hours. We need to approve any animal specimen for rabies testing. There will be a $24 to $47 handling fee for each approved specimen. Additional fees may apply as well.
Note: Rabies has not been found in raccoons in Washtenaw County. Raccoon rabies has never been detected in Michigan. If you see a raccoon that appears to be sick or acting strangely, it is likely suffering from distemper. Please call the Humane Society of Huron Valley Wildlife Removal at (734) 661-3512.
If a raccoon bites you or someone in your household, please call the Washtenaw County Health Department to report the bite.
Animals Tested for Rabies in Washtenaw County
Year |
Total Animals Tested | Total Bats Tested |
Total Positive Animals |
Animals Positive for Rabies |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 |
N/A |
N/A |
4 |
Bat (3), Horse (1) |
2007 |
N/A |
N/A |
11 |
Bat (11) |
2008 |
N/A |
N/A |
2 |
Bat (2) |
2009 |
N/A |
N/A |
0 |
N/A |
2010 |
N/A |
N/A |
2 |
Bat (2) |
2011 |
137 |
N/A |
6 |
Bat (3), Skunk (3) |
2012 |
117 |
N/A |
6 |
Skunk (4), Bat (2) |
2013 |
111 |
76 |
3 |
Bat (3) |
2014 |
101 |
70 |
2 |
Bat (2) |
2015 |
89 |
65 |
1 |
Bat (1) |
2016 |
80 |
61 |
2 |
Skunk (1), Bat (1) |
2017 |
121 |
84 |
2 |
Bat (2) |
2018 |
117 |
95 |
6 |
Bat (6) |
2019 | 134 | 85 | 3 | Bat (3) |
2020 | 108 | 83 | 4 | Bat (4) |
2021* | 118 | 86 | 7 | Bat (7) |
2022* | 39 | 25 | 4 | Bat (4) |
Capturing a Bat in Your Home
If a bat is present in your home and you or your pet had contact with it (or a person was sleeping in a room with the bat), leave the bat alone and contact an animal-control or public health agency for assistance. If professional help is unavailable, use precautions to capture the bat safely. What you will need:
- Leather Work Gloves (put them on)
- Piece of Cardboard
- Small Box or Coffee Can
- Tape
When the bat lands, approach it slowly, while wearing the gloves, and place the box or coffee can over it. Slide the cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape the cardboard to the container securely, and punch small holes in the cardboard, allowing the bat to breathe. If the bat is dead, put it carefully in a ziploc bag and put it on ice until it can be sent in for testing. Contact Washtenaw County Health Department at 734-544-6700 for advice regarding sending the bat for testing.