Imagine you're halfway up a climbing route, reach into a crack for that perfect hand jam, and suddenly your fingers push into something warm and furry.

And whatever it is, it's not particularly happy to see you.

Yep. A bat. 🦇

Turns out, bats love rock cracks and crevices just as much as climbers do. Except they're looking for a quiet place to sleep, not a 5.10 climbing route.

But here's something every climber should know.

Most bats don't have rabies, but here's the part that might surprise you:

You don't have to notice a bite to have a potential rabies exposure.

Bat bites can be so tiny they go unnoticed. Scratches that break the skin can also be a concern, particularly if contaminated with infected saliva. Sometimes, after direct contact, you might not even realize you've been bitten or scratched.

And here's the fact worth remembering:

Once rabies symptoms appear, the disease is nearly 100% fatal.

The good news? Rabies is preventable with prompt medical treatment after exposure, before symptoms begin.

So if you have physical contact with a bat, don't brush it off because you can't see a bite or the scratch looks insignificant. Wash any affected skin and seek medical advice immediately.

And if you discover a bat tucked into your next handhold?

Leave it alone. Find another crack.

The bat was there first anyway. And unlike you, it probably isn't paying hundreds of dollars for climbing gear.

Ever had an unexpected bat encounter while climbing?

We'd love to hear about it!

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