Rabies Risk In Kalamazoo: Recent Bat Encounter Raises Concerns

The last thing anybody ever wants to encounter is a rabid animal, considering rabies is one of the things that we have very little defense against. It is considered a fatal disease, and unfortunately, there is no treatment that can be done once you are infected.

There was a recent incident on May 10 where a resident discovered a bat that was on the ground, and the Kalamazoo County government has confirmed that the bat does have rabies. In a press release, they detailed the incident that took place last weekend:

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The bat was spotted on the ground during the day on Saturday, May 10, and was placed under a container. The person who found the bat then notified the Kalamazoo County Animal Services & Enforcement Department, which safely collected the bat for testing. The Kalamazoo County HCS Communicable Disease team was notified on May 14 that the bat tested positive for rabies.

Kalamazoo County Health Officer Jim Rutherford is urging residents that contact with any bat is something they want to avoid, considering that once signs of rabies are brought on, it's almost 100% fatal:

Direct contact with any bat should be avoided. Anyone who may have been in contact with a bat at Ramona Park recently should notify our office so we can discuss the next steps.

They've also given some tips to avoid being at risk to get rabies:

Report all exposures to wildlife or unfamiliar animals (usually bites and scratches) to your doctor and the local health department.
Enjoy wildlife from a distance – don’t feed or encourage wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, or foxes to visit your premises.
Vaccinate your pets against rabies.
Do not feed your pets outside, leave trash uncovered, or do anything that may attract wild animals to your property.

As of this date, there have been 4 bats discovered in Michigan in 2025 that have rabies. One in each of Kalamazoo, Allegan, Isabella, and Menominee counties, according to Michigan.gov, but there are many more out there.

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