Why you'll want to be careful around wild animals in Niagara County

Niagara County health officials are warning neighbors about rabies, after a bat tested positive for the disease.

The bat, found inside a home on Old Niagara Street in the city of Lockport, is the first rabid animal confirmed in Niagara County in 2018.

The county is also reminding neighbors to take the following precautions to prevent exposure to rabies from wildlife and domestic animals:

• Do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or feral cats. 
• Be sure your dogs and cats are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. 
• Keep family pets indoors at night. 
• Don’t attract wild animals to your home or yard. If a wild animal is on your property, let it wander away.
• Encourage children to immediately tell adults if they are bitten by any animals. Tell children not to touch any animals they do not know. 
• If your pet has been in a fight with another animal, wear gloves to handle it. Isolate it from other animals and people for several hours, and call your veterinarian.