Bandelier National Monument has confirmed that a bat found dead in the park tested positive for rabies. This marks the first confirmed rabies case of the year for northern New Mexico. The deceased bat was discovered in the Cottonwood Picnic Area on July 7.

No known human contact with the bat has been reported, but officials advise anyone who touched or had contact with any bat near the Cottonwood Picnic Area in early July to promptly contact their healthcare provider or the New Mexico Department of Health.

Rabies is a fatal disease that can affect any mammal, including bats. Officials warn that any bat allowing close approach, unable to fly, active during daylight hours, or found in unusual locations may be sick with rabies and should not be handled. If you encounter a bat, dead or alive, do not touch it.

Bat bites can be very small and are not always visible or painful. It is crucial to consult your healthcare provider or call the New Mexico Department of Health at (833) 796-8773 if you have questions about possible contact with a bat. Rabies vaccines are recommended for anyone who has had contact with a bat or finds a bat in a room where they were sleeping or where a child was unattended.

For more information about rabies, visit the New Mexico Department of Health website at: https://nmhealth.org/about/erd/ideb/zdp/rab/.

Further inquiries regarding this press release can be directed to David Morgan at 575-528-5197 (Office) or 575-649-0754 (Mobile).

A Spanish version of this press release is available via the link below.

The news release was issued jointly by the National Park Service and the New Mexico Department of Health.