Girl Recovers After Rabid Bat Bite in Wisconsin

A 6-year-old girl is on the mend after being bitten by a rabid bat outside her home in Wisconsin. The incident took place last week and, remarkably, her brother took matters into his own hands — using a homemade sword inspired by “Braveheart” to dispatch the animal, according to her family and health officials.

Cecilia “Cece” Kale had been playing on a tree in front of her family’s Tigerton home, located about 60 miles west of Green Bay, when the bat attacked, biting her left thigh.

Her brothers, 11-year-old Nicklas and 16-year-old Camden, quickly sprang into action. Their mother, Elizabeth Kale, recounted how Camden swung at the bat with a pole, knocking it away, while Nicklas finished it off with the sword he had crafted. “Nick made the homemade sword. We love ‘Braveheart,’” she shared with NBC News.

Interestingly, Nicklas had fashioned the sword on the same day as the attack. Since then, he’s been quoting lines from the movie, likely as a way to cope with the dramatic situation.

The bat later tested positive for rabies. Consequently, Cece received life-saving vaccinations within 48 hours of the incident. Despite the family’s usual opposition to mandated immunizations, they recognized the necessity given the circumstances.

Elizabeth expressed gratitude for the doctors and health officials who patiently guided them through the treatment process. Rabies, if untreated, is nearly always fatal, but it can typically be prevented with a series of five shots.

Nick Mau, the health officer for Shawano-Menominee County, confirmed that such attacks are not uncommon, noting that his office encounters about one rabid bat incident annually. He acknowledged this specific case has drawn more attention due to the young victim involved.

Mau also mentioned the importance of addressing vaccine hesitancy among patients, recognizing that diverse viewpoints exist regarding treatments and childhood vaccinations. He emphasized, “What our job is to do is to communicate risk and what’s recommended by the medical community.”

Despite the ordeal, Cece remains enthusiastic about outdoor activities and seems largely unaffected by the attack. “She’s just so brave and has a stronger constitution than the rest of us,” her mother noted.

Elizabeth is determined not to restrict her eight children from enjoying the outdoors, even with the presence of bats in the area. “We want to live out here to give our kids land and homeschool and to raise them as we would have in 1850 and to give them that type of lifestyle,” she explained. “And they’re thriving.”