Virginia doctor thought she was dreaming about a mouse. She woke up holding a bat on her face

What started as a strangely detailed dream turned into the kind of wake-up nobody forgets. A Virginia doctor said she came to in her home and realized the animal she felt at her mouth was not part of the dream at all, but a bat on her face.

A dream that turned real in seconds

Dr. Krista Edelman, a Richmond gastroenterologist, said the moment began while she was asleep and dreaming about what she described as a cute little field mouse trying to get into her mouth.

When she woke and reached toward her face, she felt something there. Edelman later said she grabbed it and ended up folding back the animal's wings before realizing what it was.

That was the point she understood there was a bat on her face. She said she started screaming that a bat was in her mouth and trying to get in. The noise woke her husband, who was able to capture the bat.

Why she brought the bat to the hospital

Edelman then took the animal with her to the emergency room, even though she did not think it had bitten her.

Dr. Adam Landsee, assistant medical director at St. Mary's Hospital, said that was the correct response. He explained that bat teeth are so small a person may not know they were bitten, and because rabies is essentially fatal, people in that situation need treatment.

He also said encounters like this should be treated carefully in general. If someone wakes up and there has been a bat in the room, in a child's room or in the house, he said, the safest approach is to assume the worst.

In Edelman's case, the scare ended with the best possible result. The bat tested negative for rabies.

She later shared the story in a video on Instagram, turning a bizarre bedroom moment into a reminder that even when an encounter does not seem to leave a mark, doctors say it is still worth taking seriously.

Why a bat might end up indoors

Bats are small flying mammals that usually come out at night to feed on insects, fruit, or nectar, depending on the species. Many use echolocation, which means they send out high sounds and listen for the echoes to help them navigate in the dark.

A bat inside a home is often there by accident. Open windows, damaged screens, gaps near the roof, loft spaces, chimneys, and vents can all give wildlife a way in. Once indoors, a bat may fly in circles because it is trying to find an exit, not because it is being aggressive. If one is found in a bedroom, it may have entered quietly while people were asleep.

Why direct contact matters

The main reason health officials take bat contact seriously is that bites or scratches can be very small and easy to miss, especially if someone was asleep, very tired, or a child. Bat saliva can also be a concern if it gets into broken skin or the eyes, nose, or mouth.

The best known risk is rabies. It is not something every bat has, but it is treated cautiously because once symptoms start, the illness is extremely dangerous. Pets that have touched a bat may also need prompt advice from a vet.

A bat that is weak, unusually active in daylight, unable to fly, or easy to approach may be unwell or injured. That does not confirm disease, but it is another reason to avoid handling it.

What to do if you wake up near a bat

If there is any chance of contact, seek urgent medical advice the same day. This is especially important if you woke up with a bat in the room, found one near a sleeping person, or are unsure whether skin was broken.

Do not touch the bat with bare hands. If it can be done safely, close the door to keep it in one room and call local animal control, wildlife rescue, or public health services for guidance. If professionals advise keeping the bat for testing, follow their instructions carefully.

To reduce the chance of another visit, check for torn screens, gaps around pipes and rooflines, loose vents, and openings around lofts or chimneys. Wildlife-proofing should be done carefully, because rules on bats and the best time to exclude them vary by place and season.