Bat Tests Positive for Rabies at Sioux Falls Zoo

A bat at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls has tested positive for rabies.

Officials say the bat was found last Friday (May 9) between the zoo's pollinator garden and the farm, and was removed by animal care staff.

No danger to guests

According to the zoo's veterinarian, Dr. Jenny Clementson, no guests came in contact with the bat. Staff members are not believed to be in any danger because they are routinely vaccinated against rabies.

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If you were at the zoo that day and have any questions or concerns, you can contact the South Dakota Department of Health at 1-800-592-1861.

More about rabies

According to the Centers for Disease Control, bats are the primary source of rabies in the United States, accounting for over 90% of human rabies cases, even though less than 1% of bats are infected.  Bats are particularly dangerous because they can bite or scratch without being noticed.

Rabies is a fatal, but preventable, viral disease. Rabies is contracted by exposure to a rabid animal, typically through a bite. Scratches and saliva contact with broken skin or mucus membranes are also possible routes of transmission.

For more information on rabies, go to the Department of Health website.

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