Oregon health and wildlife officials are reminding residents to avoid handling bats after the state recorded an unusually high number of rabies-positive bats this year.
According to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), 22 bats have tested positive for rabies in 2026, matching the highest annual total recorded since tracking began more than two decades ago. With several months remaining in the year, officials expect that record to be surpassed.
Although bats have naturally carried the…