Bat encounters with humans have been on the rise this year in McHenry County, public health officials reported this week. Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Human-bat encounters are in the rise in McHenry County, health officials said Monday.

“We don’t have a definitive reason for the increase in bat encounters, but it could be due to several factors: increased public awareness and education by the MCDH about bats and the rabies virus, leading to more people calling for assistance; seasonal activity, as bats are more active in late summer through early fall; and local law enforcement advising people to report bat encounters to McHenry County Animal Control,” county health department spokesperson Nick Kubiak said

The department encouraging residents over social m

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