The City of Amarillo is asking residents to avoid bats and wild animals.
The City of Amarillo's Public Health Department issued a statement today warning residents that bats and other wild animals are active at this time of year. Because of migration, the City says there is an increased danger of rabies.
A person is in danger of contracting rabies through a bite, scratch or saliva from an infected animal. If untreated, rabies is fatal.
Healthcare providers in Amarillo are required to report all animal bites to the City. If outside of the City limits, reports should be made to your local sheriff's office. Treatment information for bites from high risk animals (skunks, foxes, raccoons, coyotes) can be found through the City's Public Health Department.
As provided by the City, health tips regarding rabies include:
· Do not touch, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter
· Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly
· Maintain homes and other buildings so bats cannot get inside
· Call AAM&W about removing stray animals in your neighborhood – never adopt wild animals, bring them into your home, or try to nurse sick ones to health
· Bats that are on the ground which are unable to fly or that are active during the day are more likely than others to be rabid – such bats are often easily approached but should never be handled
· If you find yourself in close proximity to a bat, dead or alive, do not touch, hit, or destroy it and do not try to remove it from your home – instead call your AAM&W or your sheriff’s office as it may be possible to test the bat and avoid the need to receive rabies treatment
· Call AAM&W through the 911 dispatch system to report a bat in your home or a dead bat on your property
· If you wake to a bat in the room you may need to be treated, if the bat cannot be tested.
For more information, visit amarillo.gov.
