Berrien County health department warns about rabies risk from bats

As cooler evenings set in, Berrien County health officials are reminding residents to take precautions against rabies as bats move closer to homes.

Health Officer Guy Miller says bats often enter houses during seasonal migrations, raising the risk of exposure. He urges residents to safely capture bats if there is possible contact and submit them for testing rather than killing them.

“It is very important that if somebody has had exposure to a bat — a bite, a scratch, or even if a bat was present in a bedroom while someone was asleep or unconscious — that animal should be tested for rabies,” Miller said.

Rabies is rare but almost always fatal once symptoms begin, which can include confusion, agitation, hallucinations, and paralysis. Miller says if a bat cannot be tested, health officials