A bat found near Towe and Fish Hatchery roads in Gaston late last week has tested positive for rabies.

No people or pets are known to have been exposed.

SC Department of Health and Environmental Control officials caution you never to touch wild or stray animals, alive or dead, with your bare hands.

Bats that could have had contact with people, pets or livestock should be safely trapped in a sealed container and not touched.

Do not release a bat that has potentially been exposed to a person or pet.

Rabies Program team leader Terri McCollister said you may not realize you or a pet has been bitten.

Bat teeth are small and bites are easy to overlook.

You can’t tell if a bat or any other animal is rabid simply by watching its behavior.

It must be confirmed in a lab.

“Not every bat is infected with the virus,” said McCollister. “Bats are an important part of South Carolina’s ecosystems and deserve a healthy degree of respect just like all wild animals.”

If you suspect you or a pet have come into contact with a bat or another potentially rabid animal, please call DHEC at 803-896-0620.