First Rabies Case of 2025 Confirmed in Grey-Bruce Bat
A bat in Grey-Bruce has tested positive for rabies—the region’s first confirmed case in 2025. Grey Bruce Public Health urges caution and offers tips to prevent exposure.
Grey Bruce Public Health (GBPH) is urging residents to remain alert to the risk of rabies after a bat from the region tested positive for the disease—the first confirmed animal rabies case in Grey-Bruce this year.
The bat, identified as a big brown bat, was submitted for laboratory testing earlier this week as part of a public health investigation into a potential human exposure. GBPH continues to follow up with those involved to ensure appropriate preventative treatment is provided.
“While the risk of acquiring rabies locally remains very low, this case highlights the importance of avoiding contact with wildlife and taking other steps to prevent animal bites and scratches,” said Chimere Okoronkwo, a Senior Public Health Manager with GBPH.
Rabies is a viral disease most commonly transmitted through the bite or, less often, the scratch of an infected animal. In Ontario, bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons are the most frequent carriers. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal in both humans and animals. However, when administered promptly, the rabies vaccine is highly effective at preventing illness.
So far in 2025, Ontario has recorded 91 confirmed cases of rabies in wildlife, the majority involving bats. Locally, GBPH has already conducted 722 investigations into potential rabies exposures this year. Nearly 70 per cent of those cases stemmed from dog bites, with 131 linked to cat bites or scratches, and 86 involving contact with wild animals.
To reduce the risk of rabies, public health officials advise residents to:
Avoid touching, feeding, or approaching wild animals.
Keep pets supervised and away from wildlife.
Ensure all pets are vaccinated against rabies, as required by Ontario law.
Take steps to wildlife-proof homes and cottages, including sealing small exterior openings and installing screens and chimney caps.
Educate children about the dangers of approaching unfamiliar or stray animals.
Additionally, GBPH encourages residents to bat-proof homes by sealing entry points, reinforcing window screens, and closing outdoor access doors securely.
Anyone who suspects an animal may have rabies or has had contact with a potentially infected animal should call the Wildlife Health Information Line at 1-888-574-6656 or visit the Ontario government’s rabies webpage.