03/13/2026
PSA: Bats in the Beaumont area 🦇
With the second Positive bat in less than three months, we would like to remind people to not handle bats if they find one on the ground or in their house. Just this past December, a lethargic bat was found in the 600 Blk of 21st street, and after testing, the bat was found to be positive for rabies. Most recently, an injured bat was picked up in the 6000 Blk of College, and after subsequent testing, this bat was also found to be positive for rabies.
The most common bat species in East Texas, particularly in forested areas, are the Evening Bat, which often roosts in trees and buildings, and the Eastern red bat, a common, solitary, tree-roosting species. The Mexican free-tailed bat is also highly abundant throughout Texas. Beaumont Animal Care begins receiving calls about bats in early spring and continues through the summer months. Bat mating season in Texas primarily occurs in the spring, just before or during the return journey of migratory species, with peak maternity colony activity—when pups are born and raised—occurring from March through August.
While less than 1% of the total bat population has rabies, approximately 11% of bats submitted for testing in Texas test positive. A grounded, dying, or acting-strange bat, such as paralysis or inability to fly, could be a sign of infection. Never touch a bat with your bare hands. If a bat is found in your home or makes contact with a person/pet, it should be captured (if safe to do so), call your local animal control department, and they will submit the bat for testing.
If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, wash the area immediately and seek medical attention, as rabies is 100% fatal once symptoms begin.
Not every bat that is found is sick, nor does it need to be tested, especially if the bat is carrying its young. Again, we always recommend contacting your local animal control agency and letting the officer make that determination. Stay safe this summer and practice your bat safety!
