ROYALTON — A bat found in the town has tested positive for rabies, prompting a public notice from the Vermont Department of Health for Royalton and nearby towns.
Officials say rabies cases have increased in recent years.
Of the seven confirmed rabies cases in bats across Vermont this year, two were in the Upper Valley: Strafford in February, and Royalton this week. Natalie Kwit, the state public health veterinarian, noted that some years, Vermont has found zero rabid bats.
“Last year we only had a handful, so it does feel a little elevated this year,” Kwit said Thursday by phone.
Still, no human has ever come down with a case of rabies in Vermont, she said.
The Vermont Department of Health conducts surveillance for rabies, a deadly viral brain disease commonly found in raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. Humans become exposed when bitten by an infected animal, but it can also be transmitted through a person’s eyes or mouth.
Anyone who’s bitten should immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and speak with a medical professional, the state’s July 14 notice said. People worried about themselves or their pets are encouraged to contact the hotline or a local game warden and their physician as soon as possible.
Rabies hotline consultations through the health department are a primary mechanism for testing animals and collecting data.
Bats are discovered frequently in buildings, Kwit said, and people sometimes notice a bat in their vicinity and believe there’s a chance they could have been bitten, especially while sleeping.
“We can’t totally rule out exposure to that bat,” Kwit said, and the best way to determine if there’s a problem is for her department to examine the bat.
The state has found that a large majority of bats are not rabid. Of the 111 bats tested this year do to reported concern, only seven tested positive for rabies, Kwit said.
In each of the past two years, there were 66 cases of rabies in any type of animal, based on annual Department of Health reporting, but only 38 cases in 2023. As of July 16, there had been 34 cases in 2026.
Across the state line, New Hampshire had 28 rabies cases in 2025, according to the state’s Division of Public Health Services. Three of those cases occurred in the Upper Valley towns of Enfield, Lyme and Charlestown.
While Kwit is not sure why numbers have increased nearly 50% in the past few years, she suspects an infected animal could have been introduced in the state, or there’s been a decline in vaccinations.
After every positive rabies test, the department notifies the people or pet owners involved to determine what should be done next. That may involve a lifesaving prophylaxis shot as medical treatment when necessary.
“It’s not an unlimited resource, and it’s not cheap ,and it’s hard to come by,” Kwit said of the shot.
Earlier this year, a rabid bat bit a Strafford resident. While Kwit does not have updated information on the individual’s health status, she believes the person recovered.
Royalton Police Chief Loretta Stalnaker is not aware of any rabid animals in town in her previous eight years with the department.
Residents can go about their business as normal, Stalnaker said, but should be aware of any signs of rabies. There are no particular areas in town to avoid, but strange animal behavior can be a symptom, such as being in public areas during the day.
“If you see one that’s acting aggressive or just not disappearing when they see you, that’s a bit abnormal,” Stalnaker said.
Neither Stalnaker nor Kwit believes anyone in Royalton came into direct physical contact with the rabid bat.
“I think I would have heard that somebody had been bitten,” Stalnaker said. For instance, police are notified of dog bites.
Bat bites tend to occur when a person attempts to relocate a bat. Gloves are not fully protective, as bats can bite through fabric, Kwit said.
The Department of Health notice also advised people not to touch wild or stray animals, as a bite or scratch from an infected animal can put people at risk.
“You can’t tell if an animal has rabies just by looking at it,” the notice stated.
Seasonality plays a major role in bat activity, Kwit said. This time of year, bats are out of hibernation, and often active. Bats are reproducing, and new pups often explore their environment and sometimes enter buildings in the process.
According to Stalnaker, no residents have contacted police over anxiety about the alert. The town has not taken any action, aside from informing the public.
“It’s hard to say what it means for the bat population in that local area, but it is a good reminder for residents to take these types of scenarios seriously,” Kwit said.
The Vermont USDA Rabies Hotline can be accessed for immediate assistance at 800-4-RABIES or by dialing or 802-223-8690.
