News Release
Sept. 9, 2026
Health officials request information from people who used ASAP Wildlife Services MN amid potential rabies exposure investigation
State health officials are attempting to contact customers of ASAP Wildlife Services MN who had bats or other mammals submitted for rabies testing on their behalf from Sept. 1, 2025, through today.
Based on information provided to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), officials believe ASAP Wildlife Services MN operates in the Twin Cities metro area and has not consistently submitted animals for rabies testing. At least one customer has been told of negative results from a laboratory that does not perform animal rabies testing.
If you used ASAP Wildlife Services MN from Sept. 1, 2025, through today and had a bat or other wild mammal submitted for rabies testing on your behalf by the business, please call MDH at 651-201-5368. MDH rabies disease specialists will assess whether testing was performed and advise you on the need for rabies prevention shots.
MDH is taking the unusual step of requesting people who used ASAP Wildlife Services MN in the past 12 months to contact the department directly because, thus far, the business has not been responsive to state outreach. This step is necessary to determine whether rabies testing was performed and to ensure no one is at risk of rabies. Rabies symptoms can take a long time to develop, which is why the state is requesting more information from ASAP Wildlife Services MN going back as far as 12 months from today.
In Minnesota, animals are submitted for rabies testing at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and the test is performed at the Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory. Only state public health laboratories or designated university veterinary diagnostic facilities are approved to perform animal rabies testing. If a Minnesota animal is tested in an out-of-state laboratory, both negative and positive results are reported to both the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.
This situation is a reminder that bats in Minnesota can carry rabies. Rabies is a fatal illness that is transmitted through bites from infected animals. Bats are of particular concern because their teeth are so tiny that a bite may not be felt or even leave a noticeable mark. If a person has any physical contact with a bat or finds a bat in the room of a sleeping person or unattended child, the bat should be captured safely and submitted for rabies testing. Never touch a bat with bare hands. Information, including a video, on how to safely capture a bat for testing can be found on the MDH website.
MDH staff note that if someone has been bitten by or exposed to a bat, it is very important to test the bat for rabies. If this is not possible, then rabies prevention shots should be given as soon as possible.
Anyone who has concerns about an animal bite or an encounter with a wild animal should contact their healthcare provider promptly. To learn more about rabies and how to protect yourself, visit the Rabies page on the MDH website.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health also stresses the importance of working with your veterinarian to keep pets and livestock up to date with rabies vaccinations. For more information, visit the BAH website or talk to your veterinarian about concerns specific to your animals.
-MDH-
Media inquiries:
Amy Barrett
MDH Communications
651-201-4993
Amy.Barrett@state.mn.us