On Tuesday, Aug. 4, the Westminster Police Department received a call about a group of children playing with an injured bat at an apartment complex at the 3700 block of 68th Ave.

An animal management officer responded and took possession of the bat which had already been taken away from the children. The bat was euthanized and taken to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for testing.

On Thursday, the department was notified that the bat has tested positive for rabies. Working in unison with the CDPHE, animal management officers returned to the area to help identify and locate the children for a risk assessment. Everyone in the apartment complex has been notified and flyers have been posted about the incident.

If anyone has information about the children that were in contact with the bat, they are asked to call the CDPHE at 303-692-2700.  

Rabies is normally transmitted to humans through a bite or the saliva of the infected animal. Rabies is a serious disease that affects the nervous system and is fatal if left untreated, but treatment is effective if potential exposures are discovered early.

• Learn more about rabies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/rabies

Never touch or play with an injured bat or other wild animal. Instead, please call 911 or the city’s non-emergency number at 303-658-4360 so an animal management officer can be sent to assist.