Rabid bat found in Naperville home

Naperville police say a little brown bat was removed Wednesday from inside a residence on the 500 block of East Bailey in the Quail Ridge subdivision on the city's south side. The bat since has tested positive for rabies.

Authorities are cautioning anyone who finds a bat in their home or business not to touch the animal and to instead call Naperville Animal Care & Control at (630) 420-6178 or Naperville police at (630) 420-6666. If possible, close the door to the room the bat was found in and wait for an officer to respond for removal.

The Illinois Department of Health says less than 5 percent of bats tested for rabies are found to be rabid. In the bat population as a whole, the percentage of rabid bats is less than 1%.

The National Wildlife Federation says little brown bats are common across the northern U.S. On average, they weigh less than half an ounce and have a wingspan of 8 to 11 inches. Females are typically larger than males.