A hoary bat pauses in a hemlock tree. It is one of America's largest and most strikingly colored bats. Rabies can be confirmed only in a laboratory. Such bats are often the most easily approached. Therefore, it is best never to handle any bat.
People usually know when they have been bitten by a bat.
However, because bats have small teeth which may leave marks that are not easily seen, there are situations in which you should seek medical advice even in the absence of an obvious bite wound. For example, if you awaken and 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. People cannot get rabies just from seeing a bat in an attic, in a cave, or at a distance. If you think your pet or domestic animal has been bitten by a bat, contact a veterinarian or your health department for assistance immediately and have the bat tested for rabies. Remember to keep vaccinations current for cats, dogs, and other animals.