rabid bat – A 6-year-old girl in Tigerton, Wisconsin is receiving rabies treatment after a bat attacked her leg in her family’s front yard on June 23. The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department confirmed the bat tested positive for rabies within 48 hours, prompting
A 6-year-old girl in Tigerton, Wisconsin, is now in rabies treatment after a bat attacked her leg outside her home—an incident her family says happened in seconds, in plain view, and quickly turned into a race against time.
Cecelia Kale was climbing a tree in her family’s front yard at around 8 p.m. local time on June 23 when the bat attacked her leg, her family told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network. Tigerton is a rural village about 60 miles west of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Her mother, Elizabeth Kale, said she noticed Cecelia sitting on the front porch looked “frozen in fear.” Kale told the paper that Cecelia had been only one branch up.
“She was only one branch up, and she was just frozen,” Kale said. “I thought she was (trying to say), ‘It’s a bee!’ … but nothing was coming out right. That’s when we were like, ‘OK, something’s wrong.’”
Cecelia eventually screamed that there was a bat on her leg. Kale said she and two of Cecelia’s older brothers ran to help. Kale said her 11-year-old and 16-year-old sons knocked the bat off her and killed it.
Kale and her husband took Cecelia to the emergency room and brought the bat for testing. Within 48 hours, they received confirmation from the Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department that the bat tested positive for rabies. Cecelia then received the first of four shots as part of the rabies vaccine.
Rabies is an infectious disease that affects the central nervous system in mammals. Health experts say it is nearly always fatal if left untreated, which is why anyone potentially exposed should seek medical care immediately.
In a June 25 news release. the Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department confirmed that a bat in Shawano County tested positive for the rabies virus. Nick Mau, health officer with the health department, said the bat was both counties’ first confirmed case of rabies in 2026. The counties average about one confirmed case in wild animals every year.
Mau said it is not very common for confirmed rabies cases to be discovered through a bite to a human. More often, the health department becomes aware of rabid animals through exposures to pets or bats found in a house that are brought in for testing.
He urged residents—especially those who live where wildlife is common—to educate children and avoid approaching wild animals.
“Educate children. We think a lot of animals are really cute, and they are, but just be mindful of approaching any wild animal,” Mau said. “Safety first. Just assume that any animal is going to carry disease, and rabies is one of them. We can respect and watch wild animals from a distance.”
For the Kale family, the scare has shifted how they view the animals around their property. Kale said they are now more aware of bats on their land and plan to get their barn cats vaccinated against rabies. She also encouraged parents not to hold back from asking doctors questions after an exposure.
She said Cecelia has been handling her rabies vaccine appointments well, despite painful injections.
“She’s incredibly brave,” Kale said.
Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease that primarily affects the central nervous system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can lead to severe brain damage and death in humans and some animals.
The CDC says rabies is often found in bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, though any mammal can be infected. The CDC says the rabies virus is transmitted through direct contact with saliva through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes. nose. or mouth. It can also be transmitted through direct contact with brain or nervous system tissue from an infected animal.
Human cases are rare in the United States. where fewer than 10 deaths are reported each year. and at least 7 out of 10 are tied to exposure to an infected bat. The Mayo Clinic says pets and people can be protected by vaccination. People usually receive the vaccine after exposure, but those in high-risk situations may receive it before exposure.
The World Health Organization says the rabies vaccine, if administered immediately after exposure, is nearly 100% successful at preventing the disease. While the disease is almost always fatal once symptoms begin. a few dozen people have survived without the vaccine—the first known case of that happening in Fond du Lac. Wisconsin. in 2004.
How to prevent rabies transmission, health authorities say, starts with leaving wildlife alone. The CDC says avoiding contact with wildlife remains the most effective way to prevent transmission. People should not approach wild animals that appear sick. injured. or dead. including nocturnal species such as bats and raccoons that may be active during daylight hours. The CDC recommends contacting animal control officials when assistance is needed.
The CDC advises pet owners to reduce risk by keeping pets up to date on rabies vaccinations and limiting pets’ contact with wildlife as much as possible.
The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department says anyone bitten or scratched by a bat or other wild animal should promptly clean the wound with soap and water. then contact a physician or go to the emergency room. The department also advises people to hold the animal until it can be consulted on if it can be captured safely.
Wisconsin rabies bat bite Tigerton Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department CDC rabies vaccine