MDH says Twin Cities bat-removal firm may have misled customers on rabies tests
The Minnesota Department of Health says a Twin Cities bat-removal firm may have misled customers about rabies testing, and the agency has opened an investigation announced Wednesday.[1]
ASAP Wildlife Services is owned by Louis Monette, who told FOX 9 that "the customers that have asked me to test bats I have done so or if a bat shows signs of rabies or contamination," but he provided no documentation.[2] When pressed about telling a customer they received a negative result from a lab that does not test for animal rabies, Monette called it a "misunderstanding" and then shut down his Facebook page.[2]
Biologist Dr. Ron Moen told FOX 9 the only way to know if a bat has rabies is to submit it for proper laboratory testing, and that visual inspection is useless.[2] FOX 9 also reported that roughly 4% of captured bats carry rabies, and infection is essentially 100% fatal without post-exposure vaccination.[2]
FOX 9 first reported that Minnesota health officials had opened an inquiry into rabies testing concerns earlier Wednesday.[1] A later FOX 9 update added Monette's comments, his testing claims, and his subsequent Facebook shutdown.[2] If you find a bat that may have contacted a person or pet, public health guidance is to preserve the animal for testing and contact local health officials about possible post-exposure vaccination.
Show source details & analysis (2 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- ASAP Wildlife Services is owned by Louis Monette, and FOX 9 contacted him via Facebook on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 (ASAP Wildlife Services).
- Louis Monette told FOX 9, "The customers that have asked me to test bats I have done so or if a bat shows signs of rabies or contamination," but he offered no documentation to support those testing claims (Louis Monette).
- When pressed about telling a customer they received a negative result from a lab that does not test for animal rabies, Monette called it a "misunderstanding" and then shut down his Facebook page (his Facebook page).
- Biologist Dr. Ron Moen says the only way to know if a bat has rabies is to submit it for proper testing and that visual inspection or lay judgment is useless (Dr. Ron Moen).
- The report adds context that about 4% of captured bats carry rabies, but infection is essentially 100% fatal without post‑exposure vaccination (about 4% of captured bats).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms ASAP Wildlife Services is owned by Louis Monette and that FOX 9 contacted him via Facebook.
- Monette claims, "The customers that have asked me to test bats I have done so or if a bat shows signs of rabies or contamination," but offers no documentation.
- When pressed about telling a customer he got a negative result from a lab that does not test for animal rabies, Monette called it a "misunderstanding" and then shut down his Facebook page.
- Biologist Dr. Ron Moen says definitively that the only way to know if a bat has rabies is to submit it for proper testing, reinforcing that visual inspection or lay judgment is useless.
- Story adds context that only about 4% of captured bats carry rabies, but that infection is essentially 100% fatal without post‑exposure vaccination.