Did you know?

Rabid bats are found every year in Los Angeles County. In 2018, a total of 27 rabid bats were found here, with just over one third of them (10 bats) being found in the city of Santa Clarita.  A total of 19 were found outdoors at private homes, 1 was found outside of an apartment complex, 2 were found at a place of business, 1 outdoors at a school, 3 were found in a park, and 1 was found on a sidewalk.

• Read about what to do if you find a bat in your home.
• Learn more about bats and rabies in Los Angeles County.

1. Lancaster. April. Mexican free-tailed bat found alive in the morning on a driveway, near resident's car.
2. Castaic. May. Canyon bat found dead on front lawn of a home.
3. Castaic. May. Mexican free-tailed bat found alive in front of an apartment building.
4. Los Angeles (Woodland Hills). May. Canyon bat found crawling across a front porch.
5. La Cañada Flintridge. June. Hoary bat found alive outdoors at a public park.
6. Castaic. June. Canyon bat found alive in a backyard near the back door of a home. Two dogs may have access to bat. Their rabies vaccinations were boostered and they were quarantined and home and monitored for signs of rabies.
7. Castaic. June. Canyon bat found dead on a front porch.
8. Santa Clarita (Newhall). June. Canyon bat found alive in driveway by car, and later found clinging to side of home.
9. Calabasas. June. Baby canyon bat fell out of roost in side of building.
10. Glendale. July. Canyon bat scooped out of pool and placed on ground. It crawled into a planter, and then was safely contained .
11. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). July. Canyon bat seen alive on concrete sidewalk, acting weak.
12. Pomona. August. Canyon bat found alive on the floor in a public restroom at a park.
13. Santa Clarita (Valencia). August. Canyon bat found on walking trail in a park area of a planned neighborhood.
14. Calabasas. August. Canyon bat found on ground, alive and hissing, in remote area on private property.
15. Westlake Village. August. Yuma myotis bat found alive but unmoving on a front porch of a home.
16. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). August. Canyon bat found dead on ground at edge of property of a home.
17. Los Angeles (Chatsworth). August. Canyon bat found on ground in remote area of a private property.
18. Santa Clarita (Valencia). August. Canyon bat found dead in the bushes near pool at a housing complex.
19. Santa Clarita (Valencia). September. Canyon bat found under a car.
20. La Crescenta. September. Canyon bat found outside on ground at a school when students were not present.
21. Santa Clarita (Valencia). October. Canyon bat found in daytime clinging to wall for a few hours, then fluttered down to ground.
22. Agoura Hills. October. Dog seen sniffing object on ground in outdoor patio. Two people picked up canyon bat before knowing it was a bat.
23. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). October. Canyon bat found alive in swimming pool.
24.  Santa Clarita (Saugus). October. Canyon bat found alive in a  garage.
25. Los Angeles (Reseda).  October.  Mexican free-tailed bat found alive in an alley behind a business.
26. Encino. October.  Canyon bat found alive and hissing on the sidewalk near many apartment complexes.
27. Santa Clarita (Valencia). November. Canyon bat found dead on a front lawn.

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

Los Angeles County Rabies Overview
Rabies Control Manual
Human rabies
2017 rabid bat map
2011 - 2015 rabid bat map 

Last updated: September 17, 2026