Key Takeaways
- A rabid bat was discovered on July 15, 2026, on the sidewalk of University Way Northeast (between NE 41st and NE 42nd St) near Parrington Lawn on the University of Washington campus.
- Anyone who had any physical contact—touching, being bitten or scratched, or bare‑skin exposure to the bat or its saliva—should seek immediate medical evaluation or call Public Health – Seattle & King County at 206‑296‑4774 to assess the need for rabies post‑exposure prophylaxis.
- Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is 100 % preventable if treatment is administered before symptoms develop.
- The bat was euthanized on July 16, tested positive for rabies on July 17, and, to date, no other human exposures have been identified.
- Pets that may have contacted the bat must see a veterinarian immediately; even vaccinated animals may need a booster rabies shot.
- If you find a bat indoors or outdoors, do not handle it with bare hands. Use gloves or a tool to capture it for testing, and contact animal control or Public Health for guidance.
- Preventive measures include keeping pet rabies vaccinations current, avoiding direct contact with bats, and sealing entry points to keep bats out of living spaces.
On July 15, 2026, a bat was found lying on the sidewalk along University Way Northeast, between NE 41st and NE 42nd streets—a busy thoroughfare adjacent to Parrington Lawn on the University of Washington campus. The location sees considerable foot traffic from students, staff, and nearby businesses, raising the possibility that multiple individuals could have encountered the animal. Public Health – Seattle & King County received several calls from concerned passersby who reported the bat’s presence and were instructed to contact animal control.
Animal‑control agents euthanized the bat on July 16, and subsequent laboratory testing conducted by Public Health on July 17 returned a positive result for rabies. Importantly, the investigators confirmed that the original callers had not made any physical contact with the bat, and as of the announcement, no other human exposures have been identified. Nevertheless, the agency emphasizes that anyone who might have touched the bat, been bitten or scratched, or had bare‑skin contact with its saliva is potentially at risk and should seek medical evaluation immediately or call the Public Health hotline at 206‑296‑4774 to determine whether rabies post‑exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is required.
Rabies is a viral infection of the central nervous system that is virtually 100 % fatal once clinical symptoms manifest. However, the disease is entirely preventable if PEP—consisting of rabies immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccinations—is administered before symptoms appear. Because the virus resides in the saliva of infected animals, transmission most commonly occurs via a bite or scratch, but any contact with saliva on broken skin or mucous membranes poses a risk. Public Health officials stress the importance of rapid action: “Rabies is treatable if caught before symptoms appear, so identifying anyone who has had contact with the bat as soon as possible is important,” said Jocelyn Mullins, Public Health Veterinarian for Seattle & King County.
The advisory also extends to domestic animals. Dogs, cats, ferrets, and horses that may have encountered the bat should be evaluated by a veterinarian without delay. Even pets that are current on their rabies vaccinations may require a booster dose after potential exposure, as the vaccine’s effectiveness can be compromised if the animal’s immune system is overwhelmed. The most reliable way to protect pets from rabies is to maintain up‑to‑date vaccinations and to prevent them from roaming unsupervised where they could encounter wildlife.
For members of the public who discover a bat, the guidance is clear: do not handle the creature with bare hands. If the bat is outside and appears sick or injured, contact local animal‑control services. If a bat is found inside a residence, call Public Health at 206‑296‑4774 to discuss whether the animal needs to be captured and tested; the agency provides free rabies testing for bats under certain circumstances. To safely encourage a bat to leave a home, open windows and doors to the outside while closing off interior rooms and securing pets away from the bat’s location.
If a bat has made direct contact with a person’s bare skin or a pet, or if a person awakens to find a bat in the room where they were sleeping, the bat should be captured for possible rabies testing. Use a shovel, thick gloves, or another sturdy implement to place the bat in a secure container (such as a cardboard box) and refrain from discarding it. The container can then be handed over to animal‑control or Public Health for testing. Detailed instructions on how to safely capture a bat and avoid future encounters are available at kingcounty.gov/bats.
The notice was originally published on July 17, 2026, and serves as a timely reminder that while rabies is rare in urban settings, vigilance and prompt medical response are essential whenever there is any possibility of exposure to a potentially rabid animal. By following the outlined steps—seeking immediate medical advice after any contact, ensuring pets are vaccinated, and handling bats safely—residents can greatly reduce the risk of rabies transmission and protect both human and animal health.