Rabies-positive bat nets health caution after snagging hiker’s hair in Olympic National Park

A bat found near Staircase Bridge in Olympic National Park tested positive for rabies after briefly getting caught in a hiker’s hair. Health officials urged anyone who may have had contact with the bat to seek medical evaluation and contact the Mason County Health Department, noting that the contact area is still being investigated and that bat bites or saliva can transmit rabies. Visitors are advised not to handle wild animals and to contact park staff or healthcare providers if exposure is suspected; rabies is preventable with prompt treatment, and bats play important ecological roles in pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal.