Direct contact with a bat is treated seriously not because bats are dangerous, but because rabies, though rare, is preventable only if it’s caught early. Fewer than 0.5% of bats carry it, and a health professional will assess your actual risk and decide whether any treatment is needed. Acting calmly and quickly is all that’s asked of you.
Four steps, right away.
If you handled a bat with bare hands, were scratched or bitten, or a bat had contact with an open wound, work through these in order.
Wash the wound
Wash thoroughly with soap and water under running tap water for at least 15 minutes. This is the single most effective first response.
Contain the bat
If the bat is on the ground or inside, contain it, never with bare hands. Wear thick leather gloves and long sleeves, and use a trowel, dustpan, or pillowcase to move it into a ventilated box. Air holes should be pencil-sized and the lid tight; bats fit through gaps smaller than a dime. BC Health will likely test it for rabies.
Get medical care
Immediately contact your physician or local public health office, call 8-1-1, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Seek attention the same day.
Tell your coordinator
For any other questions about the bat, contact your regional Community Bat Program coordinator. We can guide you on next steps and reporting.
Bitten or touched? What to do.
A bat bit or scratched me — what should I do?
Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for several minutes, then seek medical care the same day. In BC any direct bat contact is treated as a possible rabies exposure, and post-exposure treatment is nearly 100% effective when started promptly.
How common is rabies in BC bats?
It is rare — well under 1% of bats carry it — but rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, so every bite, scratch, or direct contact is assessed by a health professional rather than brushed off.
I'm not sure the bat actually touched me — should I still call?
Yes. Bat teeth are tiny and a bite can go unnoticed, especially with a child or someone asleep. If you woke to a bat in the room or can't rule out contact, call 8-1-1 (HealthLink BC) for advice.
Should I keep the bat that bit me?
If it can be contained safely without touching it barehanded, the bat can be tested for rabies — a negative test can spare you unnecessary treatment. Your health authority or bat coordinator will guide you.