Bat Captured in Wareham Yard Tests Positive for Rabies

WAREHAM — A large brown bat was found to be carrying Wareham’s first documented case of rabies for 2018.

The Wareham Department of Natural Resources says it was called to a home in the vicinity of Crooked River Road in Wareham on Tuesday, August 28, by a resident reporting a live bat in the yard. DNR officials captured the bat and sent it to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Rabies Laboratory for testing, per protocol.

On Thursday, August 30, the Wareham DNR was notified by MassDPH that the specimen tested positive for rabies. The bat was disposed of at their facility.

The Wareham DNR says this is the only confirmed case of rabies in town so far this year, but encourages pet owners to make sure their animals are up-to-date on vaccinations and are properly tagged.

Also, if you have questions of possible exposure, a bat inside a home or locate a bat or other animal acting in a sickly fashion, contact the Wareham DNR at (508) 291-3100, ext. 3180. After-hours calls can be placed to the Wareham Police Department dispatch at (508) 295-1212.