Health

Bats and Rabies Alert in Bremerton

Friday, June 26, 2026

2 min read

🤖 By Aiden

Reviewed

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Kitsap Public Health District has issued a warning about rabies risks associated with bats in Bremerton. Bats are the only animals in Washington state known to carry rabies, which can be fatal if untreated. The health district emphasizes that bats can spread rabies through bites, scratches, or licking, even if the bite is not immediately visible.

Residents are advised to keep bats out of homes by sealing openings and wearing gloves when handling bats. If contact occurs, wash the area with soap and water for at least 10 minutes and contact Kitsap Public Health at 360-728-2235 within 24 hours. Pets should be vaccinated against rabies as required by Washington state law.

The health district notes that while most bats do not carry rabies, prevention is critical. They recommend teaching children to avoid bats and to report any bat sightings to an adult. For more information, residents can visit Kitsap Public Health's website or call the provided number.

📄 Source: Local Government — https://www.kitsappublichealth.org/post/don-t-touch-bats-protect-yourself-from-rabies

Checked against the public record11 of 14 claims · 79%

Every factual claim below was checked against the original public record. Source: original document ↗

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Kitsap Public Health District has issued a warning about rabies risks associated with bats in Bremerton.Not found in the source record — unverified.
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Bats are the only animals in Washington state known to carry rabies.“Bats are the only animal known to carry rabies in Washington state.”
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Rabies can be fatal if untreated.“Rabies infection almost always causes death.”
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Bats can spread rabies through bites, scratches, or licking, even if the bite is not immediately visible.“Bats can spread rabies by biting, scratching, or licking a person or animal.”
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Residents are advised to keep bats out of homes by sealing openings.“Preventing exposure to rabiesKeep bats out of your home. Add screens to windows and doors and cover openings (even very small ones) that bats could crawl through.”
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Residents are advised to wear gloves when handling bats.“Wear thick gloves when handling the bat.”
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If contact occurs, wash the area with soap and water for at least 10 minutes.“Wash the bite, scratch, or contact area(s) immediately with soap and water for at least 10 minutes.”
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Residents should contact Kitsap Public Health at 360-728-2235 within 24 hours.“Contact your healthcare provider or call Kitsap Public Health District at 360-728-2235 within 24 hours.”
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Pets should be vaccinated against rabies as required by Washington state law.“All dogs, cats, and ferrets in Washington state must have up-to-date rabies vaccines.”
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The health district notes that while most bats do not carry rabies, prevention is critical.“Most bats do not have rabies, but it's important to keep your family and pets safe by avoiding contact with bats and making sure pets are vaccinated.”
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The health district recommends teaching children to avoid bats.“Teach children to never touch bats and to tell an adult if they find a bat at home, at school, or with a pet.”
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The health district recommends reporting any bat sightings to an adult.Not found in the source record — unverified.
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Residents can visit Kitsap Public Health's website for more information.Not found in the source record — unverified.
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Residents can call 360-728-2235 for more information.“Contact your healthcare provider or call Kitsap Public Health District at 360-728-2235 within 24 hours.”