Hundreds of Tourists Warned They Could Have Rabies After Bats Invade Cabins

Health officials are scrambling to track down hundreds of vacationers from across the U.S. and overseas who may have been exposed to rabies while staying in cabins at Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.

The cabins, located at the historic Jackson Lake Lodge, were quietly shut down on July 27 after staff discovered bats swarming in the attic and occasionally dropping into guest rooms. Authorities now admit as many as 500 people — from 38 states and at least seven countries — may have unknowingly come into contact with the deadly virus.

Rabies is among the most terrifying infections in medicine. Once symptoms appear — ranging from fever and muscle aches to hallucinations and paralysis — it is almost always fatal. The only protection is a series of five post-exposure shots that must be administered quickly.

Dr. Alexia Harrist, Wyoming’s state health officer, did not mince words:
“What we’re really concerned about is people who saw bats in their rooms, or anyone who might have had direct contact without realizing it. Bat bites are so small, you can be asleep and never know it happened.”

Even though the few bats captured for testing were negative for rabies, Harrist said that doesn’t rule out risk. “That was a handful of dead animals. There could easily have been dozens more.”

The cabins at Jackson Lake Lodge are a summer favorite for families, hikers, and international tourists. Now, health agencies are working overtime to track down visitors who may have stayed in cabins numbered 516 through 530.

Parents of young children are being urged to take the warning especially seriously. “Kids can’t always tell you if they saw or felt something,” Harrist noted. “If a child was in one of those cabins, they may need preventive treatment immediately.”

Emily Curren, Wyoming’s public health veterinarian, emphasized the uncertainty:
“These bats live in colonies of 30 to 100. There’s no way to guarantee none of them carried rabies. We simply cannot take that chance.”

The scare comes just days before the Federal Reserve’s annual economic policy symposium, held each August at Jackson Lake Lodge. Officials were quick to insist the event — which brings together global financial leaders — will go ahead safely.

“The lodge company has done a fantastic job of ensuring the safety of all future visitors,” Curren said. Still, the timing has raised questions about oversight, especially under an administration critics say has weakened environmental and public health protections.

A retired park ranger, speaking to local reporters, was blunt:
“This isn’t just about bats. It’s about years of neglect. Park infrastructure has been crumbling while money gets siphoned elsewhere. Now families are paying the price.”

Bats play a vital role in ecosystems, eating millions of insects each night. But they are also the leading source of rabies transmission in the U.S. According to the CDC, about 70 percent of recent rabies deaths have been linked to bat encounters.

The Grand Teton incident highlights a growing clash between tourism, wildlife, and public safety. The cabins had been closed all winter and reopened in May, with guests unaware they were sharing space with an entire colony of bats.

Park officials say they are not exterminating the animals but are using devices to keep them out of the cabins permanently.

For now, the message from health officials is simple: if you or your family stayed in one of the affected cabins this summer, don’t wait. Call your doctor. Get the shots. Rabies is one disease you cannot gamble with.