The Tazewell County Health Department is encouraging safety practices when it comes to sighting a bat or a bat colony.  August is the month when most bat exposures occur in Illinois. A statement from the Tazewel County Health Department says if a bat is present in a building people should not touch the creature, rather place a solid container over the bat until animal control can be called to pick it up.   

The statement goes on to say if a person is exposed to a bat that is positive for rabies or cannot be tested that person needs to undergo a series of injections over a two week period. Questions about rabies and bats can be directed to Tazewell County Health Department.