NEWS
Officials search for teen who handled dead bat at White Sands
Officials said visitor brought dead bat to visitor center before leaving
Published
Modified
Officials at White Sands National Park said a teenage visitor handled a dead bat 鈥渨ith bare hands鈥� and may have been exposed to rabies.
The park service said in a news release Thursday it was trying to find the teenager, who left 鈥渂efore park staff could provide additional health and safety guidance.鈥�
鈥淭he visitor or their parent or guardian should contact a medical provider or local health department right away to discuss whether rabies post鈥慹xposure treatment is recommended,鈥� according to the release.
The release did not say if the bat tested positive for rabies and it is unclear if officials have been able to contact the visitor as nobody could be reached Saturday.
Officials asked the visitor to contact White Sands National Park by email at WHSA_Interpretation@nps.gov.
The release states around 10:20 a.m. Thursday, the teenager came into the visitor center holding a bat and placed it on the front desk.
鈥淭he visitor and an accompanying adult told park staff the bat was already dead when they picked it up,鈥� according to the release. 鈥淭hey left shortly after.鈥�
The release notes that 鈥渁ny direct contact鈥� with a bat, alive or dead, should be treated as a possible rabies exposure 鈥渂ecause bites or scratches from bats can be hard to detect.鈥�
鈥淩abies is a viral disease that is nearly always fatal once symptoms begin, but it can be prevented with prompt medical care after a potential exposure,鈥� the release stated. 鈥淩abies is usually transmitted through contact with saliva from an infected animal.鈥�
The release states approximately 1% of bats in nature are infected with rabies but 鈥渢he risk of exposure is higher when a bat is found dead, acting strangely, lying on the ground, flying near people or making contact with people.鈥�
Officials said in the release that a bat tested positive for rabies at the park last year.
鈥淭he best way to protect yourself and wild animals from injury and prevent rabies exposure is to enjoy wildlife from a safe distance and never pick up or handle a wild animal, dead or alive. Report sick or dead wildlife, and any contact with wildlife, to a park ranger,鈥� the release states.
