After a deceased rabies-infected bat was found by a Moose Javian woman on her front lawn, veterinarians are reminding residents to keep an eye on their pets. 

Veterinarian technician, Brooke Thauberger, said rabies is actually more common than you may think. 

"We just had a positive rabies come up here on Tuesday, and yes it has been a problem in Canada for quite some time." 

The rabies virus is spread through saliva and is treatable in humans, but fatal for other mammals that aren't vaccinated. 

Thauberger said to keep a lookout around the farm or yard for bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks acting strangely since she says those are the most commonly diagnosed wild animals.

She said it's usually not too difficult to spot an infected creature, since wild animals will often act unnaturally unafraid of humans. 

"The wild animals, they lose their fear of humans and appear unusually friendly. Usually our skunks, our bats, and our raccoons don't normally come near us and you'll find them out in the middle of the farm or your yard or bats will be out in the middle of the day and we all know that bats usually don't come out in the middle of the day." 

Of course, pets and farm animals can be infected too. Thauberger said although in her experience cats are the most often infected, some people may be surprised to know that horses are quite suseptible, since they are a typically curious animal.  

"They get it because they're curious animals. We have quite a few horses that are on rabies vaccination programs for that reason. Especially now in the Moose Jaw area that there is some positives been found here this year and last year, more horse people are becoming concerned and vaccinating their horses." 

Thauberger said to keep an eye on your pets when they're outside and make sure that no wild animals have access to the area. 

"It's mostly just keeping your pets under control and on leashes. And teaching your children also not to play with wild animals or pets that they don't know and keep a safe distance from wildlife. Trying not to help or touch injured wildlife or trying to orphan wildlife, just try to stay away from them as much as possible. Call a local veterinarian or the City and they will most likely help you out with any problems."