Peotone, IL – With the onset of warmer weather, Peotone officials are cautioning residents about increased bat encounters and the associated risk of rabies exposure, particularly in homes.
According to a public notice shared Wednesday by the Peotone Police Department, bats are the leading animals in Illinois that test positive for rabies, accounting for 3 to 9 percent of those tested. The department emphasized that releasing a bat found indoors—especially in bedrooms or areas near children or pets—should be avoided until health or animal control authorities have assessed the situation.
The advisory highlights several high-risk exposure scenarios, including people waking up with a bat in their room, individuals unsure if they were bitten, and vulnerable groups like young children or adults with dementia being near a bat. In some cases, pets exposed to bats may also face quarantine if the bat is not tested and found negative for rabies.
“Please do not release a bat until it’s been cleared by health or animal control officials,” the department stated, warning that premature release can result in avoidable rabies treatments or pet quarantines. The statement encourages residents to utilize public resources to safely capture bats for testing, including a linked video guide on bat capture.
Authorities recommend anyone who encounters a bat indoors to contact local health or animal control services immediately. Rabies is a preventable but potentially fatal disease, and testing the bat is often the only way to determine exposure risk.
For more information, residents can refer to local health guidelines or visit the Peotone Police Department’s social media page.
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