Rabid bat found in Glencoe home — possibly first in county this year

A rabid bat was found on July 3 inside a home in the 400 block of Grove Street, according to the message from the Village of Glencoe.

After the bat was found on July 3, it reportedly was submitted to the Illinois State Public Health Laboratory for testing. In a letter on July 7, Cook County reported the bat tested positive for rabies and any human or pet exposed to the bat should receive medical consult.

Health officials say that if a bat or skunk is found injured, unresponsive or dead on your property or in a public area, contact Cook County Animal and Rabies Control at 708-974-6140.

Grove Street is on the west side of Glencoe near the woodlands of the Skokie Lagoons and Skokie Country Club. A rabid bat was recovered in Glencoe’s 800 block of Grove Street in 2023.

Rabies in Illinois

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, locally, bats are the most common animal to be infected with rabies; though, other wildlife, such as raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes can also carry the disease. The last reported human case of rabies in Illinois was in 2021, the last rabid cat reported in Cook County was in 1974 and last rabid dog in the county precedes the IDPH database (1964).

Bats that are active during the day, found on the ground or that cannot fly are “more likely than others to be rabid,” according to the IDPH.

The IDPH reported that, according to its most recent data, 20 rabid bats have been found throughout the state in 2026, including one in suburban Cook County and two in Lake County. Forty-nine rabid bats reportedly were found across Illinois in 2025.

Officials say that a bat’s teeth are small, therefore a bite may be undetectable. They suggest avoiding any bat found in or around a residence.

“Instead, immediately consult with your local animal control or your local health department to determine appropriate next steps,” the IDPH says. “If you have been exposed to rabies, preventive treatment, known as PEP, is necessary. But if the bat or wild animal can be safely captured and tested, and the test comes back negative, no preventive medication is required.”

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