Montana Bats Act Strange

Some bats near Holter Lake in the Helena area have been acting strangely. Lewis and Clark County Health Department spokesman Mike Henderson told us that they observed strange behavior in one instance where a bat was just sitting in a parking lot during daylight hours. Since bats are usually nocturnal, one was captured by a BLM employee and sent to the state lab for testing. Tests revealed rabies in this bat and others, a potentially deadly disease. While most bats don't carry rabies, Henderson advises people not to approach them and if you take your pets out in the woods, make sure their rabies vaccinations are up to date. So far no reports this year of people or pets being bitten by rabid bats near Holter Lake. But the advice is applicable wherever you are in the great outdoors. DB