08/22/2026
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY — A bat found inside a Grand Traverse County residence tested positive for rabies after possible human exposure, the Grand Traverse County Health Department said.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services conducted the testing, and all identified as exposed are receiving post-exposure medical care.
Health officials said rabies spreads through the saliva of infected mammals, typically through a bite or scratch. The disease is almost always fatal once symptoms appear but can be prevented with prompt medical care and vaccination after exposure.
Bats are Michigan’s most common rabies carrier, officials said, and bites and scratches can be hard to see. As of Aug. 19, 36 bats and one skunk in Michigan have tested positive; any direct contact with a bat should be treated as a potential exposure, officials said.
Residents are urged to avoid contact with wild animals, including bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes, and to keep pets vaccinated against rabies, including cats, dogs, ferrets, horses, cattle and sheep. Officials also recommended sealing openings that could allow bats into homes and not handling wildlife with bare hands.
If a bat is found in a home, residents should not release it, officials said. They should safely contain the bat without direct handling and call GTCHD at 231-995-6051 to discuss testing and possible exposure, and should not bring a bat to the health department without calling first to set an appointment. Anyone bitten or scratched by an animal, or who has contact with a bat, should seek medical attention immediately.
For general questions about bat exposures and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, contact GTCHD at 231-995-6125.
