Los Angeles County has already tied its annual record for rabid bats, with 69 confirmed cases in 2024, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The bats have been found in everyday places such as schools, offices, parks, businesses, and residential backyards.
The county hit that mark during peak bat season, KABC reported.
Here's what to know
On World Rabies Day — observed each year on Sept. 28 — the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported that rabid bat detections have been increasing for more than a decade.
The 2024 total reached 69, matching the 2023 record.
August made up a large share of the cases: 24 rabid bats were confirmed during the month, and 32% of the bats residents submitted for rabies testing came back positive.
The Santa Clarita Valley accounted for 68% of the county's 69 rabid bat cases in 2024.
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Most of those animals were Canyon bats, which suggests rabies may be circulating more intensely in that local bat population.
Public Health noted that rabid bats have been detected throughout Los Angeles County, from the San Fernando Valley to downtown Los Angeles, including in office buildings, parks, schools, and backyards.
More background
"Bats are an important part of our environment, but they can be infected with and spread rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear," Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis warned.
Exposure is possible when saliva or tissue from a rabid bat gets into the body through a bite or scratch, or reaches a wound or the mouth, nose, or eyes, officials emphasized.
Because bat bites can be tiny, they may feel like a pinprick or go unnoticed entirely.
Public Health said about one-third of bat encounters happen indoors, and those situations carry a higher risk of exposure, including in bedrooms, offices, schools, and similar environments.
What can be done?
Even without a confirmed bite, Public Health identified some scenarios that should still be treated as possible exposure, such as waking up with a bat in the room or finding one near a sleeping person, child, or pet.
In those situations, residents should not let the bat go, so that it can be safely collected and tested.
"If you find a bat indoors or think you may have had contact with one, contact your medical provider or Public Health right away," Davis advised.
"And remember, never touch a bat or any wild animals. Immediately report any bat found indoors, or outdoors if it appears sick, active during the day, unable to fly, or dead, to your local animal control."
Where can I learn more?
Similar rabies-related bat incidents have surfaced beyond Los Angeles County. These stories cover additional cases in California and other states.
• Across San Diego County, rabid bats turned up at the Zoo and Safari Park.
• In Snohomish County, a rabid bat flew into a home, sending three residents for treatment.
• In McHenry County, officials warned that a rabid bat found inside a home exposed a resident.
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