ESTERO, Fla. - Six children in Estero will start receiving a series of 5 anti-rabies shots, after they touched a bat that turned out to be rabid.

"The children were playing with a bat they found lying on the ground on July 22nd.
They all were exposed to the bat, which later died and was found to be rabid," said Dr. Judith Hartner, director of the Lee Health Dept.    "Anytime you see a bat or other wild animal or even a stray that is acting strangely, do not touch it.  Leave it alone," she added.

The health dept. is not releasing the addresses of the children, to protect their privacy.   The shots cost about 1000-dollars for a series, according to Dr. Hartner.

She added that bats are not more prone to get rabies than other animals, such as raccoons and foxes.  Bats are nocturnal, and if you see a bat in the daytime, and it seems lethargic, it no doubt is sick, and could have rabies.

Estero resident Karen Hilton says she often sees bats flying at night in her neighborhood.   The mother of 5 says she always tells her children, stay away from any wild animal or stray.