Tyler Bat Tests Positive for Rabies
Tyler Animal Services caught a rabies-positive bat near South Broadway Avenue, and people and animals with possible exposure have been notified.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Pet Health
Tyler Animal Services caught a bat near the 2100 block of South Broadway Avenue that the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed tested positive for rabies. Known people and animals with possible exposure have been notified.
Why it matters
Rabies is fatal once symptoms appear, so prompt notification and vaccination of potentially exposed people and pets are critical for Tyler residents. The case is a reminder that wild animal encounters can carry real health risks even in urban neighborhoods.
Tyler and Smith County require rabies shots for all dogs and cats, and in Tyler failing to vaccinate a pet by four months of age is a Class C misdemeanor. The number of people or animals with possible exposure has not been disclosed.
The players
Tyler Animal Services
The municipal agency that handles stray and wild animal calls in Tyler, Texas, and captured the bat.
Texas Department of State Health Services
The state agency responsible for public health in Texas, which confirmed the bat's rabies test result.
The details
Tyler Animal Services caught the bat near the 2100 block of South Broadway Avenue, and the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the rabies result. Bite incidents must be reported to the Local Rabies Control Authority for investigation.
Timeline
Article reporting the rabies-positive bat published November 13, 2026.
Local Rules
Tyler's rule that pets be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age under Smith County ordinances sets the baseline protection for animals that may encounter wildlife like this bat.
Pet owners in Tyler should make sure dogs and cats have current rabies shots, since the city requires vaccination by four months of age. Anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should report the incident to the Local Rabies Control Authority.
The takeaway
Keeping pets' rabies vaccinations current is the simplest way to protect them and their owners when wildlife enters residential areas.
Further reading
For related guidance, browse Pet Health coverage on Wisevoter.
