05-20-26 Bat Infected With Rabies Identified In Douglas County - 05/20/26

Joint Release: Douglas County Environmental Health Division, Douglas Public Health Network, and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2026

Bat Infected with Rabies Identified in Douglas County

(Douglas County, Oregon) Douglas County Environmental Health Division, working in conjunction with Douglas Public Health Network and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division received a report from Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirming that a bat found in Douglas County, Oregon has tested positive for rabies.  This is the first animal to test positive for rabies in Douglas County in 2026, and the fourth positive case reported in Oregon this year. The last time bats tested positive for rabies in Douglas County was in 2021.

In this case our Douglas County Environmental Health Division coordinated with Umpqua Wildlife Rescue and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division to test a distressed bat after a concerned resident brought it in for care.   The resident will be encouraged to do post exposure care for handling the bat, as per Oregon Health Authority Investigative Guidelines for Animal Bites and Rabies.

While rabies is transmitted through the bites of an infected animal, and post-exposure vaccination is effective, Phil Kailiuli, Douglas County Environmental Health Supervisor, says the best plan is prevention. “People should avoid any and all contact with bats or other wild animals; make sure your dogs, cats and ferrets are vaccinated against rabies; and if you are bitten by an animal, please contact your doctor or health care provider and seek medical attention immediately.”

“Bats are an important part of our ecosystem, but people should avoid direct contact with them,” Kailiuli said. “Bats that are sick may be found lying on the ground, unable to fly, or displaying unusual behavior. If you encounter a sick bat or other ill wildlife on your property, do not touch the animal. Bring children and pets indoors and contact our local Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Roseburg Field Office at (541) 440-3353 or Umpqua Wildlife Rescue at (541) 440-6895 for assistance.”

This notice also serves as a reminder to avoid contact with or interactions with unknown animals. Even animals that appear friendly can bite if provoked or startled.

Other Helpful Tips:

• Avoid contact with bats. If you see a bat during daylight hours, it is most likely unhealthy and should definitely NOT be touched.
• Do not approach or touch a wounded animal, leave that for the professionals.
• Do not feed, try to catch, or play with wild animals such as foxes, squirrels, birds, skunks, opossums, bats, beavers, rats, venomous snakes or raccoons.
• It’s very important that you do not disturb or try to touch an animal while it’s feeding or taking care of its young. Never try to pet or remove a baby or young wild animal from its nest, den or habitat.

For additional tips about animal bites and rabies prevention visit here.   To report an animal bite or if you have questions or concerns related to animal bites or rabies, please contact Douglas County Environmental Health Division at (541) 440-4559 or Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division at (541) 440-4328.   For more resources you can visit DPHN's Animal Bites webpage or Oregon Health Authority or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 

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Media Contacts:

Tamara Howell | Chief Public Information Officer | Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Phone: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov

Vanessa Becker | Public Information Officer & Public Health Modernization | Douglas Public Health Network | Cell: (541) 817-6552 | Email: vanessa@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org

Undersheriff Brad O’Dell | Douglas County Sheriff’s Office | Phone: (541) 440-4464 | Email: brad.odell@douglascountyor.gov

Jonathan Modie | Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division | Phone: (971) 246-9139 | Email: PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov