"Rabies Alert: Bat Tests Positive in Arches National Park, Rangers Urge Safety Measures"

Arches National Park rangers are warning visitors to be cautious around bats in the park after one tested positive for rabies. Visitors have reported unusual bat behavior, and one person was bitten. Bats are important to the ecosystem but should be viewed from a distance. Any physical contact with a bat, no matter how small, is considered a potential exposure to rabies, which can be spread through saliva or mucus membrane contact. Visitors who have had contact with a bat should seek medical attention and report the encounter to the National Park Service Office of Public Health.