Injured or sick bats found outdoors during the day should not be touched with bare hands.
© dpa
The rabies virus has been detected in a bat in Charlottenburg.
The animal was found by a private individual and taken to a veterinary clinic, where it was tested for bat rabies, according to the Senate Department for Consumer Protection.
Bat rabies should not be confused with fox rabies, but it is also notifiable. Infection with European bat lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1) occurs through contact with the saliva of infected animals and through bite and scratch wounds.
The Senate Administration therefore advises against touching injured or sick bats found outdoors during the day with your bare hands. It is better to use gardening gloves or a towel. “If there is a risk of skin injury from tiny teeth or claws, or if a child has handled a bat unsupervised, it is advisable to seek medical advice immediately for safety reasons.”
Despite their cute appearance, “bats can sometimes be defensive and do not like to be touched,” according to a leaflet published by the Senate Administration on how to deal with bats that have been found. Before picking up an animal, it may be helpful to call a bat expert. Infections in humans are extremely rare. According to the leaflet, three infections with the virus were detected in Berlin between July 2020 and July 2025. It cannot be said with certainty how widespread the pathogen actually is in the bat population and which bat species are affected.