Rabid bat found near playground at Renton’s Gene Coulon Park, health officials say - KOMO

What the report says

KOMO News reports that Public Health – Seattle & King County said Wednesday that a bat found in Renton’s Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park tested positive for rabies. According to the report, the bat was located Tuesday on a sidewalk at the south end of the park, near the playground, south shelter and restrooms.

Health officials said anyone who had direct physical contact with the bat may need medical evaluation, even if they do not see a bite mark. KOMO reported that Public Health Veterinarian Jocelyn Mullins emphasized that rabies can be prevented when addressed before symptoms appear, and that contact can include touching a bat, being bitten or scratched, or having bare skin exposed to the animal or its saliva.

Public Health advised people who think they may have touched or otherwise been exposed to the bat to seek care promptly or call the agency at 206-296-4774 to discuss whether preventive rabies treatment is recommended. Officials also told the public not to handle bats found outdoors and to contact animal control at 206-296-7387 if a bat appears sick.

The case matters because rabies is rare but can be fatal once symptoms develop, making quick identification of possible exposures important. The warning is especially relevant because the animal was found near a playground and other high-use park facilities. General public health guidance is to avoid handling bats, keep children and pets away from them, and report animals that cannot fly or appear unusually weak or aggressive.