In a surefire moment of creepy crawly-ness, a live rabid bat was found on the floor of a bedroom closet in Mokena last week.

Besides the eek factor, it was also Will County's fourth confirmed case of wildlife rabies this year, and health officials are urging caution.

Residents of a home on Midland Avenue spied the sick bat on Aug. 27, according to the Will County Health Department.

They covered it with a towel and notified animal control officials, who confirmed it was rabid on Aug. 29.

No pets live in the residence, but four people living there elected to begin post-exposure rabies treatment, according to the health department.

September and October are peak months for bat activity, according to veterinarian Lee Schild, the county's animal control administrator.

"We are now right in the middle of the prime season for bat activity and that means people need to exercise extreme caution if contact with a bat is suspected," Schild said in a statement. "Bats found on the ground are a special reason for concern because diseased bats typically have trouble flying."

Any contact with a bat is a potential rabies exposure, Schild said, and should be reported to animal control authorities.

Human rabies is almost universally fatal in people who aren't immunized, according to the health department, making timely medical assistance essential after rabies exposure.

Schild also urged pet owners to ensure their pets are vaccinated regularly, as pet vaccinations are the "first line of defense" against the potential for rabies transmission to humans.

Will County is one of at least a dozen state counties to report wildlife rabies activity this year.

The county set a local record in 2012, with 12 confirmed wildlife exposures.

Those with rabies-related needs can contact Will County Animal Control 24 hours a day at 815-462-5633.

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