Ada County Bat Tests Positive for Rabies

Boise, June 20, 2025 — A bat tested positive for rabies after it was found this week in Downtown Boise in front of the Owyhee Building on Main Street. Tests confirming the rabies virus came back positive Wednesday, June 18.

Although most bats do not have rabies, the virus can cause serious illness in both people and pets.
Anyone who might have come into close contact with the bat should contact their primary care provider to determine if rabies shots are warranted. Please also call (208) 375-5211 to speak with a Central District Health epidemiologist. Bats are an important part of the ecosystem and should be left alone if encountered. People can live safely with bats and increase rabies prevention by following this advice:

• Never handle a bat with bare hands.
• Wear thick gloves (not rubber kitchen gloves) to save the bat in a container or transfer it into a container without touching it.
• Contact your public health district to arrange for rabies testing.
• Always vaccinate your pets, including cats. Pets may encounter bats outdoors or in the home.
• Bat-proof your home or cabin and maintain tight-fitting screens on windows. Bats can enter through holes the size of a quarter. Typically, bat-proofing is best accomplished after most bats have migrated away in the fall.

For more information on bats and rabies please visit:

• Idaho Fish and Game site here.
• The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare rabies site here.
• Bat proofing the home, click here.
• Central District Health rabies site here.

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Media Contacts:

Central District Health
Stephanie Borders
Communications Manager
208-327-8639 or 208-871-1712
sborders@cdh.idaho.gov

Idaho Department of Fish & Game:
Roger Phillips
Public Information Supervisor
Idaho Fish and Game
(208) 287-2882
Cell: (208) 794-1633