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- Have your pets vaccinated. Any pet that comes in contact with wild animals is at risk.
- Since rabies in this country is primarily a disease of wildlife, an important element of rabies prevention is avoiding wild animals. Do not feed or handle wild animals, especially those that appear aggressive or sick.
- Bats are the animal most likely to be rabid in Los Angeles County. Bat proof your home. Bats should be excluded from houses and adjacent structures. Such structures should then be made bat-proof by sealing entrances used by bats. Bats should not be captured, handled, or kept as pets.
- It is illegal to keep skunks, raccoons, coyotes, foxes, or bats as pets in California. Never keep wild animals as pets. California law prohibits the importation of any such animals into the state.
- Pre-exposure vaccine is recommended for travelers planning to be more than 30 days in an area of the world where rabies is a constant threat.
- Immunization is also recommended for individuals whose occupations or activities place them at frequent risk of exposure. These include hunters, forest rangers, taxidermists, laboratory workers, stock breeders, veterinarians, spelunkers and slaughterhouse workers.
