The city of Rosenberg confirmed a case of rabies in a bat last week.

So, it is time to remind everyone that pets should be vaccinated and kept in a fenced back yard or the home for their own safety.

If the pet stays outside, do not leave open food containers out at night when nocturnal creatures go foraging for food. It will encourage them to enter the yard (and fences don’t always stop them), thus putting your pet in danger.

Be sure and report any suspicious behavior on the part of wildlife. Bats and skunks are most often the rabies carriers; however fox, coyotes, raccoons and other wildlife can be infected.

Any animal that exhibits unusual behavior should be avoided. For instance, if you see a skunk during the daylight hours and it doesn’t appear to be afraid of humans, stay away from it and keep your pets away too.

Bats are nocturnal, so they too should be considered suspicious if they are out in the daylight hours.

If you see an aggressive animal or one that appears to be ill, contact your local animal control and report it.