Let Wildlife Be Wild and Learn How to Be Safe During World Rabies Day

Published on September 19, 2025

By Arlington Animal Services

What do you do if you see a bat on the ground? Be safe, and do not touch it! Bats are carriers of the deadly rabies virus. It is best to contact Animal Services or a qualified bat rehabilitator if you see a bat on the ground or in a place it should not be found.

Arlington Animal Services webpage

A bat’s natural response to someone attempting to touch or hold it might be to bite, and it is not worth the risk. Let wildlife be wild. A healthy but fearful bat being handled by someone may bite, resulting in the bat needing to be euthanized and tested for rabies.

On the positive side, bats are amazing creatures and very beneficial for the environment. They eat pesky mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that “some small bats can catch up to 1,000 or more small insects in a single hour."

World Rabies Day, marked each year on Sept. 28, was started in 2007 to raise awareness about the public health impact of human and animal rabies.  

What can you to protect against rabies?

The American Veterinary Medical Association offers these tips to control rabies:

• Have your veterinarian vaccinate your dogs, cats, ferrets, and select horses and livestock. Your veterinarian will advise you on the recommended or required frequency of vaccination in your area.
• Reduce the possibility of exposure to rabies by not letting your pets roam free. Keep cats and ferrets indoors, and supervise dogs when they are outside. Spaying or neutering your pet may decrease roaming tendencies and will prevent them from contributing to the birth of unwanted animals.
• Don’t leave exposed garbage or pet food outside, as it may attract wild or stray animals.
• Wild animals should never be kept as pets. Not only may this be illegal, but wild animals pose a potential rabies threat to caretakers and to others.
• Observe all wild animals from a distance. A rabid wild animal may appear tame but don’t go near it. Teach children NEVER to handle unfamiliar animals—even if they appear friendly.
• If you see a wild animal acting strangely, report it to the city or county animal control department.
• Bat-proof your home and other structures to prevent bats from nesting and having access to people or pets.