Rabies Risk and Bat Safety Awareness

In Colorado, there have been numerous confirmed cases of rabies in bats in 2025, along with one reported case in neighboring Wyoming. In this region, bats and skunks are the most common carriers of rabies—a rare but deadly virus that can infect all mammals, including humans.

Rabies can be prevented when medical treatment is started promptly after exposure. The virus is transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals, not through casual contact or exposure to blood, urine, or feces. Because bat bites can be difficult to detect, anyone who has direct contact with a bat, or wakes up to find one in their room, should seek medical or public health guidance immediately.

When safe and feasible, bats that may have had contact with humans should be captured for rabies testing to help guide treatment decisions. To learn more about rabies, visit the CDC.

Important Safety Guidelines Regarding Bats

• Do not touch or handle bats—whether they appear sick, behave unusually, or are deceased. Like any wild animal, bats may bite if they feel threatened. Anyone bitten by a bat should seek medical attention and, if it can be done safely, contain the bat for testing.
• Wash animal bites thoroughly with soap and water and consult a medical professional as soon as possible.
• Keep pets vaccinated and up to date on rabies immunizations.
• Report potential exposure immediately by contacting a local wildlife animal control professional. If you’re in Colorado, contact CDPHE; in Wyoming, contact the Wyoming Department of Health.

What to Do When You Encounter a Bat

Bats and humans occasionally cross paths, and the appropriate response depends on where and how the bat is encountered.

• Bats in unused areas of buildings—such as attics, barns, or sheds—can be humanely excluded using one-way doors that allow them to exit but not return. This method should only be used in late summer or early fall, as earlier use can separate flightless pups from their mothers.

• If a bat enters a living space, open a window (remove the screen), close off the room overnight, and allow the bat to leave on its own.

• Seeing bats outside during the day is not unusual and often means they are roosting or searching for a place to rest. Leave resting bats alone. However, bats flying during winter may indicate white-nose syndrome and should be reported to Wyoming Game and Fish or your local public health department.

• If you find an injured bat, contact your local public health department if in Colorado or the Wyoming Game & Fish. Do not attempt to handle, rehabilitate, or keep a bat, as this is illegal without proper permits.

Professional Bat Eviction and Cleanup Services

Front Range Pest provides safe, humane bat eviction using proven exclusion techniques that allow bats to exit naturally while preventing reentry. Our process begins with a thorough inspection to identify entry points, followed by the installation of one-way exclusion devices. Once bats have vacated, all openings are permanently sealed.

We also offer full cleanup and restoration services, including guano removal, disinfection, and repair or replacement of damaged insulation, drywall, or flooring—restoring affected areas to a clean, safe condition.

A Humane and Responsible Approach to Bat Control

Front Range Pest uses ethical, non-lethal bat control methods that protect both homeowners and wildlife. Because bats are a protected species and vital to Colorado’s and Wyoming’s ecosystem, we do not exterminate them. Instead, we humanely evict bats and secure your home to prevent reentry—keeping your family safe while preserving the bat colony.

If you suspect bat activity in your home or have concerns about potential exposure, contact Front Range Pest for a professional inspection and peace of mind.

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Front Range Pest is your trusted, family-owned pest and wildlife control company serving central Colorado and southern Wyoming. Our certified technicians have the expertise and credentials to ensure effective pest management for your home or business. As your all-in-one insect and wildlife specialists, we offer peace of mind by identifying wildlife entry points, removing nuisance pests, sealing access areas, performing cleanup, and making essential repairs. Schedule an inspection with us today.

Written by the Digital Marketing Team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/.