A rabid bat found at friends' house

The town of Friendswood urges people to stay alert after a raging bat is found earlier this month.

The bat was found in a 400 block house on Windsor Drive on September 16, according to a statement from the Friendswood Police Department. According to the statement, the owner was working at his home when he discovered the bat and made contact with her.

Friendswood Animal Control (FAC) confirmed that the bat had rabies and eliminated it. The resident was the only person who made contact with the bat and he is in contact with the Texas Department of Health, the statement said.

Rabies is a potentially lethal virus that is spread through contact with the saliva of infected animals, most often by a bite. Symptoms of infection include behavioral and physical changes such as fear, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, difficulty walking, and convulsions.

PET TALK: Vaccines are the key. Protect your pet from rabies

In order to keep the public informed and safe, the Friendswood City offers the following tips to prevent rabies exposure:

• Do not handle wild animals, especially bats.
• Teach your children to never touch or handle bats, even those that have died. Ask your children to tell an adult if they find a bat at home, at school, or with a pet.
• If you see a wild animal, leave it alone.
• Do not keep wild animals as pets.
• Keep bats out of your living space.
• Pets can catch rabies if bitten by a rabid animal. Protect yourself and protect yourself by getting them vaccinated regularly.
• If you think you have been bitten by an animal that may be rabid, clean the site with soap and water and contact your health care provider.

Rebecca Hennes covers the news of the community. Read it on our news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | [email protected]