Mother from Tucson Concerned About Daughter Finding Rabid Bat in NAU Dorm Room

Leaving your child at college can be a nerve-wracking experience for any parent. However, for a mother from Tucson, a new concern arose when her daughter made a shocking discovery in her dorm room at Northern Arizona University (NAU).

Pamela Jonikas, the worried mother, expressed her fear and frustration after learning that her daughter found a rabid bat in her NAU dorm room. “There are so many things to worry about when you send your daughter to college. You never imagine that rabid bats would be one of them,” she said.

As October approaches, Halloween decorations are nowhere to be found at NAU. The bats seen in the dorm room are real. After the sophomore student at NAU took the initiative to call animal control, the bat she found tested positive for rabies.

While not all bats are immediately dangerous, according to the CDC, bats are the most commonly reported rabies-carrying animals in the United States. Most rabies-related deaths in the U.S. result from exposure to a rabid bat.

Subsequent to the discovery of the rabid bat in Evelyn’s dorm room, Pamela Jonikas’ daughter, the animal control was immediately contacted. They captured the bat and confirmed its rabies infection. Evelyn mentioned that there are at least four more bats in the building, but it is unconfirmed whether they are rabid as well.

Both Evelyn and her friends have received the rabies vaccine, but they still need two more doses. Pamela hopes that they won’t encounter any more bats in the meantime.

News 4 Tucson reached out to NAU for a response, and the university stated: “NAU and Coconino County Health and Human Services were notified of a bat in Mountain View Hall, which was found and removed. Following testing positive for rabies, NAU brought in a pest control specialist to address the issue.”

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