Wild Rabid Bat Flying Around Popular Arkansas Zoo Captured

On Saturday, September 23, the Little Rock Zoo received a report of a wild bat flying erratically on Zoo grounds. The bat tested positive for rabies at the Arkansas Department of Health Glen F. Baker Public Health Laboratory.

So far, no reports on whether anyone came in contact with the bat but if anyone did, you're asked to contact the ADH as soon as possible for evaluation by calling 501-661-2381 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and after-hours please call 800-554-5738. If you prefer you can email the ADH at adh.zoonotic@arkansas.gov. ADH does not pay for or provide rabies PEP but can provide consultation to citizens and healthcare providers who have questions about whether it is necessary.

Officials with the Little Rock Zoo noticed the bat was flying erratically and was showing signs of unusual behavior so they contacted the Zoo's veterinary staff. The wild bat was not a part of the bat collection at the zoo so the veterinarians using protective gear were able to wrangle it in and quickly euthanize the bat. It's not believed that the bat was not exposed or came into contact with any of the zoo's collections.

Although bats are an essential part of our ecosystem, they can potentially pose a health risk when they come in close contact with humans, according to the press release. A very small percentage of bats less than one percent are infected with rabies, and these bats will become ill and behave abnormally, making them more likely to encounter humans. There are approximately 1,300 species of bats known around the world, no word on what type of bat the Little Rock Zoo captured.

Rabies is a deadly disease that can be transmitted to people through a bite from an infected animal or more rarely from infectious saliva directly contacting a person’s eyes, nose, mouth, or open wound. The rabies virus cannot be transmitted through casual contact or being near an infected animal without direct contact. There is no treatment or cure for rabies once symptoms start, and it is nearly 100 percent fatal, so timely medical intervention is required.

The Zoo’s standard operating procedure for wildlife includes due diligence checks and reviews of wild animals to ensure they are disease-free to protect the animal collection, staff, and guests.

It's a little bizarre to say the least, because when you see a bat it reminds folks of a vampire or the caped crusader and the Halloween season. Holy nightmare, Batman!

Visit the Little Rock Zoo here and get ready for Howl-O-Ween parties at the zoo coming in October.