State Officials Urge Oregonians To Avoid Contact With Bats

State Officials Urge Oregonians To Avoid Contact With Bats

Oregon health and wildlife officials are reminding residents to avoid handling bats after the state recorded an unusually high number of rabies-positive bats this year. According to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), 22 bats have tested positive for rabies in 2026, matching the highest annual total recorded since tracking began more than two decades ago. With several months remaining in the year, officials expect that record to be surpassed. Alt…

Bat rabies matches record in Oregon

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) are urging people to prevent exposure to rabies while highlighting the importance of bats and other wildlife to the state’s ecosystems. So far, 22 bats have tested positive for rabies in 2026, according to OHA data. That means the state has matched – and is poised to surpass – its record for the number of bats that...