White Sands National Park in New Mexico is urgently seeking to identify a visitor who handled a dead bat with bare hands and brought it inside the park’s visitor center on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Park officials are asking the individual, or their parent or guardian, to come forward immediately due to potential health risks associated with the incident.
The primary concern is rabies, a potentially fatal viral disease that can be transmitted through contact with infected bats. Even handling a dead bat with unprotected hands can pose a transmission risk, as the virus can enter the body through small cuts, scratches, or mucous membranes. Health officials stress that rabies is nearly always preventable if treatment is sought promptly after exposure.
Authorities are urging the visitor to contact a medical provider or local health department right away to determine whether rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment is necessary. Time is a critical factor in rabies prevention, and delaying evaluation could have serious consequences for the individual’s health.
The visitor is also asked to reach out directly to White Sands National Park by emailing WHSA_Interpretation@nps.gov. Park officials have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident but emphasized the importance of identifying the visitor as quickly as possible.
Read the full story at https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/news/nr06252026.htm