MOOSE, Wyo. —On Saturday, hikers encountered a bat displaying unusual behavior along the Cascade Canyon Trail.
Grand Teton National Park officials say the bat was flying at the hikers in the middle of the day along the trail. This behavior suggests it may be sick with rabies.
Although less than 1% of bats have rabies, the ones that act strangely or contact humans are up to ten times more likely to have rabies.
In 2019, a visitor was bit by a rabid bat near Jenny Lake after a bat fell from a tree onto the visitor’s shoulder. The visitor tried to brush the bat off, but it bit their hand. Rabies continues to be a rare but real concern.
The park also reminds the public that bats are an important part of the ecosystem. At least 12 species of bats have been found in Grand Teton National Park. They eat insects and some pollinate plants.
Because bat bites and scratches can be small, any physical contact with a bat is considered a potential exposure.
Park visitors who have had physical contact with a bat should clean the site of contact with soap and water and seek medical attention for potential exposure as soon as possible. They should also notify the NPS Office of Public Health of the encounter.
Visitors who see a bat acting strangely, or find a dead bat, should not approach or touch the bat and should notify a ranger.
