Three bats tested positive for rabies recently in Kankakee County. The positive bats were in the areas of Grant Park, Kankakee, and St. Anne, but may be found anywhere in Kankakee County. Thirteen bats have tested positive for rabies in Illinois so far this year, and a total of 61 bats tested positive for rabies throughout the whole State of Illinois in 2022.
If you find a bat in your home or other location, do not attempt to handle or remove it yourself. Try and isolate yourself and others from the bat, and minimize harm to the bat, so it can be tested for rabies.
Contact Kankakee County Animal Control to remove the bat by calling 815-937-2949; after hours call 815-933-3324.
Rabies vaccine may be needed if you handle a bat, or there is a bat in a room with someone who was sleeping, an unobserved child, or someone who is incapacitated. Please contact the Kankakee County Health Department to determine if rabies vaccine is needed. Call 815-802-9400, option 3, while after hours call 815-937-8479.
To protect your pets from exposure to rabies, all owners are reminded that it is VERY important for pets to be current with their rabies vaccination, even animals that never leave the house.