A live bat trapped in a southwest suburban Braidwood garage has tested positive for rabies, marking Will County’s first case of wildlife rabies in 2016.
A resident armed with a broom pinned the bat to the floor in the garage of a home in the 800 block of North School Street in Braidwood, according to a statement from the Will County Health Department. The resident covered the bat with a plastic container and called animal control.
The bat was taken to the Illinois Department of Public Health for testing, and a positive result was returned May 5, officials said. No human exposures are suspected, and a dog that lives on the property has been given a rabies booster shot and remains under observation.
This marks Will County’s first recorded case of wildlife rabies this year, the health department said. The county saw a record high of 20 confirmed cases in 2015.
