It was just earlier this week that Prince George’s County was warning its residents of a marked increase in rabid bat activity, and now the District of Columbia Department of Health is following suit. The rabid bat menace has reached D.C.’s borders.

A reported 13 bats caught by D.C. officials have tested positive for rabies recently, most of them discovered inside people’s homes. Residents are urged to “bat proof” their homes by closing windows and doors, repairing broken window screens and other points of entry such as loose shingles, vents and chimneys to prevent bats from entering their homes.

Here’s DOH’s guidelines for what to do if you find a bat in your house:

* Contact animal control for assistance by calling 311.
* Contain the bat in the room. Close the windows. Close the door.
* Leave the room after closing the door.
* DO NOT handle the bat. Wait for the animal control officer to assist.
* DO NOT release the bat. DOH may want to test the bat for rabies.
* Repair home to keep out bats and other wild animals.

The full advisory can be found here.