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​Many people don’t realize that bats are the most common source of rabies exposure in Ohio and the Tri-State area.

CINCINNATI – September 24, 2026 – When most people think about bats, a movie scene may come to mind: a bat flying around before transforming into a cape-wearing, fang-bearing vampire who announces its desire to bite its potential victim. That makes a great monster story, but real-life bat behavior is very different.

In recognition of World Rabies Day on Monday, September 28, the Cincinnati Health Department wants to remind residents that bats are the most common source of rabies exposure concerns in the Greater Cincinnati region.

Rabies may be most frequently associated with racoons, skunks, and foxes in general lore, but every animal that tested positive for rabies Hamilton County between 2019 and 2023 involved a bat, including six cases within Cincinnati city limits.

Quick Facts​

  • So far in 2026, Ohio has identified 53 rabies-positive animals, all of them bats, and 13 of the state’s positive bats were in Hamilton, Butler and Warren Counties.
  • There have been 6 positive bats in Hamilton County, including one in Cincinnati.
  • At least 70% of U.S. rabies fatalities have been associated with bats, making it the country’s leading source of human rabies deaths.
  • The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory on Sept. 10, 2026, in response to the recent increases in human exposures to rabid or possibly rabid bats and the increase in administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
  • Experts estimate that fewer than 1% of wild bats carry rabies.
  • Bats submitted for testing are more likely to be rabies-positive because they may be sick, injured, behaving abnormally, or involved in a human or pet encounter.

Home Bat Encounters

Bats have an important role in our environment and help control insects. When they find their way homes, most people just want to get them out of the house as fast as possible.

However, finding a bat inside a home is a potential health concern – a fact many people don’t know. Why? Bat teeth are very small, and, in some situations, people may not realize they were bitten or scratched by the bat.

That's why public health officials urge that any direct contact with a bat should be considered a potential rabies exposure and public health professionals should be contacted immediately to assess the situation.

What is “Direct Contact”?

Unlike movies, a potential bat exposure does not require dramatic or visible bite marks. Direct contact can be as simple as a bat landing on you, flying into you, getting tangled in clothing or hair, or any situation where a bite or scratch cannot be ruled out.

It also includes finding a bat in a room where someone was sleeping, or when a young child, person with cognitive impairment, person who was sleeping, or anyone else unable to reliably describe what happened.

“We don’t want people to be afraid of bats. They’re an important part of our ecosystem and the vast majority of the bat population is not rabid," said Dr. Maryse Amin, CHD Assistant Commissioner for Community Health and Environmental Services. “What we do want is to make sure residents are more aware of the potential danger of a bat exposure and that finding a bat in their home requires a closer look by public health officials.”

Not All Bat Encounters Are Equal

When spotted or flying around outside, bats are usually displaying normal bat behavior. Earlier in the day, they’re known to use the sun to warm up, and they fly around to feed at dusk. It’s also normal to find them roosting in a barn, shed, under a bridge or overpass, or other outdoor structure. These are not public health concerns unless someone has direct contact with them.

A bat found inside a home is different, however. Bats can occasionally enter living spaces through gaps or openings and may be found in attics, wall voids, chimneys, ductwork, or – sometimes – even in occupied rooms. But when a bat enters a home, especially a bedroom or sleeping area, it creates the possibility that someone in the room could have been exposed without realizing it.

That's why CHD officials encourage residents to pay special attention whenever a bat is discovered inside a residence.

“Bats are wonderful for our environment, and some people see past their fictional descriptions and think they’re pretty cute,” said Kim Wright, CHD’s Supervising Epidemiologist with its Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit. “But it’s not so cute when you find them in your home. In southwestern Ohio, we have a high percentage of older-construction homes with small cracks and crevices that bats can fit through while seeking warmth or rest, so it’s not unusual to them in houses or buildings.

“When and if that happens, it’s important to remain calm, try to keep the bat contained and away from people and pets, and call public health officials immediately. Only about one percent of bats has rabies, and you can’t tell by looking at one if it has rabies or not. Only testing can determine if it is rabid, so it’s always important to be safer and cautious and involve public health officials right away,” Wright added.

 

Bats: Myth vs. Fact

Myth: Every bat has rabies.

Fact: Most bats do not have rabies. However, bats are the animal most often associated with rabies exposures in Ohio and throughout the United States.

Myth: If I wasn't bitten, there's nothing to worry about.

Fact: Bat bites can be difficult to detect. Some people may not notice a bite or scratch, especially if they were sleeping or otherwise unable to recognize if a contact occurred.

Myth: If I find a bat indoors, I should immediately let it outside.

Fact: If there is any possibility of exposure, the bat should be tested. Releasing it before contacting public health officials can make it impossible to determine whether treatment is needed.

Myth: Finding a bat outside means it has rabies.

Fact: Seeing a bat outdoors at dusk, flying overhead, roosting under a bridge, or hanging in a tree is usually normal bat behavior. Most outdoor bat encounters do not present a rabies concern unless direct contact occurs.

Myth: If a bat is flying in circles, darting around, or swooping near people, it's probably rabid and trying to attack.

Fact: Bats aren't tiny vampires on a mission; they're highly skilled nighttime navigators that use echolocation to find food and avoid obstacles in the dark. To humans, bats’ quick directional changes, curved flight paths and sudden dives may look clumsy and like they’re in distress. But a bat that flies close to a human is usually chasing a bug, not a person. A lot of energy is required for flight, so bats need to rest periodically, and they can be found hanging from elevated surfaces (walls, rafters, trees, etc.). Occasionally, bats may land on nearby surfaces, structures, or people, creating situations where direct contact can occur.

 

There's A Bat in Your Home! 

If you find a bat inside your home:

  • Do not touch it with bare hands.
  • Keep children and pets away.
  • If possible, safely isolate the bat in the room where it was found.
  • If there is any possibility of human or pet exposure, do not release the bat until you have spoken with public health officials.
  • Seek medical advice immediately if anyone may have had direct contact with the bat.
  • Contact the CHD Rabies Prevention and Control Program at (513) 352-2922.

The same precautions follow if your pet has had a bat exposure or catches a bat.

Residents or clinicians with questions about potential rabies exposure should contact CHD:

  • Exposure Assessment & Public Health Guidance: (513) 357-7462.
  • After-Hours/Weekends/Holidays: (877) 774-4636.

A Preventable Disease That Still Matters

When bat exposure is recognized and treated promptly, rabies is one of the most preventable infectious diseases. However, when it is not, rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.

Public awareness about exposures and prompt action remains one of the most effective tools for prevention. As World Rabies Day approaches, CDH encourages residents to remember: A bat in your home or bedroom is your bat signal to jump into action and contact public health officials immediately.

And unlike the vampire bats depicted in movies and books who fly out of open windows and vanish into the night, a bat in your home may be your cue to pause, avoid contact, and call public health officials before taking action.

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