Potentially Rabid Bat Observed in Roger Williams Park Zoo

Published on Friday, September 11, 2026

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is alerting the public that a bat in Roger Williams Park Zoo in late August was reported to have been exhibiting behavior that is consistent with rabies. 

Roger Williams Park Zoo is located in Providence. The bat was observed by a group of visitors in the zoo’s water play area on Monday, August 24.  The incident was reported to RIDOH on September 11. RIDOH investigated the zoo visitor’s report. The zoo’s veterinarian informed RIDOH that the incident was considered to be a low risk of human exposure, the bat was safely discarded per protocol, and there were no observations or reports of the bat prior to August 24. Although this bat was observed at the zoo several weeks ago and was discarded before it could be tested for rabies, anyone who had contact with a bat in the zoo on or before August 24 should contact RIDOH’s Center for Acute Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 401-222-2577 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 401-276-8046 after hours). RIDOH staff will be able to assess exposure and determine if treatment is necessary. 

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system. If a person does not receive the appropriate medical care after a rabies exposure, the virus can cause disease in the brain, ultimately resulting in death. Rabies treatment must be started as soon as possible after exposure and before symptoms appear. 

On September 10, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) health advisory to inform clinicians, health departments, and the public about increases in recent animal rabies activity and associated human exposures nationwide. Rabies is preventable when people who have been exposed receive appropriate administration of the rabies vaccine before symptoms begin. Avoiding contact with sick-acting mammals and wildlife and seeking prompt medical care after potential bites or scratches can help prevent rabies. 

During the summer of 2026, reports of animal exposures and rabies post-exposure vaccinations have increased nationwide. Rhode Island has seen an elevated number of rabid animals in 2026. A full list of specimen collection dates and locations may be found on RIDOH’s Rabies Data Dashboard online under “Animal Rabies Mapping”. The majority of these animals were raccoons and bats. Additionally, a rabid cat, coyote, skunk, and woodchuck have been found in Rhode Island this year.  

Bats have small teeth and bites may not be easily seen, therefore people do not always know if they have been bitten by a bat. If you wake up to find a bat in your room, see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, seek medical advice and have the bat tested. When in doubt, call RIDOH at 401-222-2577. 

If a bat bites you, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and get medical advice immediately. Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a lab for rabies testing. To learn more, visit health.ri.gov/rabies/bats. 

RIDOH recommends the following to prevent rabies:  

• Make sure all dogs, cats, and ferrets are up to date on rabies vaccination.  
• Avoid all contact with and do not feed stray or free-roaming domestic animals.  
• Avoid all contact with and do not feed wild animals.  
• Do not feed your animals outdoors, as this will attract other animals. This is especially dangerous when feeding large numbers of free-roaming cats.  
• Protect your pets by always maintaining control; walk dogs on a leash or let them play in a fenced yard, and do not let pets wander unsupervised.  
• Report all animal bites to your city/town's animal control officer.  
• Securely cover all garbage cans so wild animals cannot scavenge for food.  

For more information, visit health.ri.gov/rabies.