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

*as of March 19, 2021. Counts are preliminary and subject to change
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* 13 9 0  

Rabies Maps

  1. Map of Positive Rabies Cases in Washtenaw County 2011-2018
  2. Map of Positive Rabies Cases in the Ann Arbor Area 2011-2018

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
Check it Out Before You Let It Out

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.