Did you know?

• 33 rabid bats were found in Los Angeles County in 2017
  • 29  were found at homes
  • 1 was found at a school
  • 2 were found at businesses
  • 1 was found in a park

Three of the 32 rabid bats were found indoors. Read about what to do if you find a bat in your home.

Learn more about bats and rabies in Los Angeles County.

1. Arcadia. March. Mexican free-tailed bat found alive outdoors clinging to edge of a curb.
2. Glendale. April. Mexican free-tailed bat found alive indoors at a business.
3. Los Angeles (Canoga Park). April. Mexican free-tailed bat found alive outdoors at a home.
4. Rosemead. April. Hoary bat found face down on  the ground outside at a school.
5. Whittier. April. Hoary bat flew into backyard at a home in daytime, flew into a person's shirt. 
6. Santa Clarita (Newhall). May. Hoary bat found alive clinging to a fence at a home.
7. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). May. Canyon bat found alive outside on a patio at a home.
8. Stevenson Ranch. June. Canyon bat found alive outdoors at a home.
9. Santa Clarita (Valencia). July. Canyon bat found dead on driveway at a home.
10. Stevenson Ranch. July. Canyon bat found alive hanging on a wall in a backyard.
11. Azusa. July. Canyon bat found alive outdoors on a patio at a complex of homes.
12. Castaic. July. Canyon bat found alive on driveway at a home, crawled under a car.
13. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). July. Canyon bat found walking on ground next to pool.
14. Stevenson Ranch. July. Canyon bat  found in pool.
15. Santa Clarita (Valencia). July. Canyon bat found in backyard.
16. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). July. Canyon bat flying around in backyard, landed on tree, then wall, then behind a bush.
17. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). July. Canyon bat found on front porch.
18. Castaic. July. Canyon bat in swimming pool.
19. Santa Clarita (Saugus). July. Canyon bat found freshly dead on patio. Pet cat resting nearby. Cat placed under 30 day home quarantine for possible rabies exposure.
20. Santa Clarita (Saugus). August. Canyon bat found alive outside on patio.
21. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). August. Canyon bat found alive on patio.
22. Azusa. August. Bat found by hikers in Azusa Canyon recreational area.
Bat species not determined.
23. Palmdale. August. Canyon bat found outdoors on patio by cat. Cat placed under 30 day home quarantine for possible rabies exposure.
24. Santa Clarita. August. Canyon bat found alive, inside apartment unit.
25. Valencia. August. Mexican free-tailed bat found alive, clinging to the wall of a shopping center.
26. Santa Clarita. August. Canyon bat seen flying outdoors then landed on front porch.
27. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). August. Canyon bat flying around backyard, flew into home through an open door. It was later found in the kitchen.
28. Santa Clarita (Valencia). September. Canyon bat found alive in a swimming pool.
29. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). October. Canyon bat found dead in a yard. Resident thought it was a leaf at first.
30. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). October. Canyon bat found alive in a driveway, later found on front porch.
31. Santa Clarita (Valencia). October. Canyon bat found alive on garage floor.
32. Santa Clarita (Valencia). October. Canyon bat found in a swimming pool.
33. Santa Clarita (Canyon County). December. Canyon bat found alive on a doormat just outside of a house.

Lecture about rabies in Los Angeles County 2011
Centers for Disease Control - Rabies pages

Los Angeles County Rabies Overview
Rabies Control Manual
Human rabies
2016 rabid bat map
2011 - 2015 rabid bat map 

Last updated: September 17, 2026