09/04/2026
This is the reason why we recommend all pets, including those that spend the majority of the time indoors, have an up to date rabies vaccination !
We recently had a client in the RM of wallace Woodworth exposed to a rabies positive bat that was on her face in the middle of the night ! Rabies risks are real for any human bat exposure and the whole family in this case required post rabies exposure vaccination. So thankful that they are all ok and that they found and tested the bat !
Could you imagine waking up with a bat on your face in the middle of the night 😱😱
Here is some good information about rabies in bats. Any bat exposure is serious !
The bat in question ended up being a migratory silver haired tree bat and tested POSITIVE for rabies.
Important Notes:
• Rabies can be transmitted through contact with saliva or nervous tissue
•Rabies can also be transmitted to pets and livestock as well. We strongly recommend rabies vaccinating all pets - even the indoor ones.
• Bats have very small teeth that may not leave visible marks
• Contact your healthcare provider if you were scratched or bitten by a bat
• Even if you don’t see a bite or scratch, contact your healthcare provider if a bat was found in a room with a sleeping, unattended child or someone who may not be able to reliably recognize or report an exposure.
Manitoba is home to 6 bat species all of which are potential carriers. See google photos below
