Two bats test positive for rabies in Lewis and Clark Co.

HELENA — Lewis and Clark Public Health officials are asking people to keep an eye out for bats in their homes. So far this summer, two bats in the area have tested positive for rabies.

Seeing bats is not unusual in the summer—it’s when they are more active, and public health officials say it is not unusual for a small number of bats to test positive for rabies.

“That’s average for Montana,” LCPH environmental programs supervisor Beth Norberg said. “We do see them, not in very high numbers though.”

Although it is not unusual, Norberg said it is still important to alert public health officials of bats found in indoor spaces, like homes, or bats behaving unusually, meaning out during the day, acting lethargic, and not avoiding people. Health officials will test bats displaying these behavi