During 2015 a total of 34 rabid bats were
found in Los Angeles County. Half of
them were found in Santa Clarita
(see zoomed-in map lower right).
- Sierra Madre. January.
Bat found alive under a tree and behind a
fence in secluded area of a business.
- Santa Clarita (Saugus).
March. Dog carrying live bat it around in
its mouth in yard. The dog's rabies
vaccination was up-to-date. The dog received
a booster vaccination, and will be monitored
for rabies for 30 days.
- Bell Gardens. March.
Bat found alive hanging from eaves of a
home.
- Los Angeles (Brentwood
area). March. Bat found alive on ground in
front yard. Vaccinated dogs in yard with bat
will be observed for rabies for 30 days.
- Calabasas. March. Bat
found in isolated area on second floor of an
office complex.
- Palmdale. April. Bat
found in outdoor patio area at a school.
Children were indoors at the time, away from
bat.
- Santa Clarita
(Newhall). April. Bat found in bushes in
front yard of a home.
- Altadena. April. Dog
picked up rabid bat in mouth, carried it
into house.
- Santa Clarita (Canyon
Country).May. Bat found dead on walkway
between two apartment complexes. Posters
placed to advise residents.
- Santa Clarita (Saugus). June.
Bat found dead in yard of a home.
- Calabasas June. Bat
found alive in the yard of a home.
- Santa Clarita
(Valencia). July. Bat found alive in
backyard.
- Santa Clarita (Canyon
Country). July. Bat found clinging to side
of a building at a business.
- Santa Clarita (Saugus).
July. Rabid bat found alive on ground in
alley near a business.
- Santa Clarita
(Stevenson Ranch). July. Bat found dead, on
a front porch.
- Glendale. July. Bat
found outdoors at a busy intersection.
- Whittier. July. Pet
flew into a business, hit a window and fell
to floor. Staff member covered it with a box
and called animal control.
- Santa Clarita (Saugus).
August. Two dogs stepped out back door of a
home, person with them heard hissing sound.
Found bat on ground near door. Both dogs
potentially had direct contact, and will be
quarantined at home and observed for rabies.
- Lakewood. August. Rabid
bat found dead on a driveway.
- Santa Clarita
(Valencia). August. Bat found alive, hanging
on a garage door.
- Santa Clarita
(Newhall). August. Bat flew into pool, and
then crawled out and hung on nearby wall.
- Los Angeles (West
Hills). August. Bat found alive on ground
near entrance to a school. Adult removed bat
and taken to wildlife rehabilitation
facility.
- Santa Clarita
(Valencia). August. Bat found alive on a
second story patio outside of a business.
- Acton. August. Bat
found dead just outside a home.
- Palmdale. August. Bat
found alive, stick between screen door and
sliding door of a home.
- Santa Clarita
(Newhall). August. Bat found alive by hikers
on a park trail.
- Los Angeles (Tarzana).
August. Bat found outside of a medical
facility. Bat was taken to a veterinary
clinic, then to an animal shelter.
- Santa Clarita
(Valencia). August. Bat alive, clinging to
stucco above front door to a home.
- Santa Monica. August.
Found alive under table in backyard of a
home.
- Santa Clarita
(Valencia). September. Bat found alive near
front door of a home.
- Santa Clarita
(Valencia). September. Live bat sitting on
floor of a front porch for more than 48
hours. A vaccinated dog sniffed at the bat
and possibly had close contact, will be
quarantined and observed for rabies for 30
days.
- Santa Clarita (Canyon
Country). October. Live bat found on patio
in yard. Was covered with flower pot until
Animal Control officer arrived to pick it up
for rabies testing.
- Altadena. October. Live
bat was on underside of table in home. Bit
one person who was near bat. Unknown how
long bat was in home. Vaccinated dog in home
possibly exposed. Dog's rabies vaccination
boostered right away, placed under 30 day
home quarantine.
- Santa Clarita
(Valencia). November. Bat found dead in
yard.
BATS AND RABIES
Bats are the animals that are most commonly
diagnosed with
rabies in Los Angeles County. However, only about 1% of
bats in nature are infected with rabies.
Most
bats are not rabid, and they try to avoid
contact with people and pets. Bats are good for
the environment because they eat insects and
pollinate plants. Bats are also protected by
law. Click here to read more
about bats.
However, bats seen flying in daylight, or found
on the ground, are more likely to have rabies.
Never touch a bat or other wild animal. If you
pick up a bat with your bare hands, you may be
bitten and exposed to rabies.
Bats that bite a person or pet should be tested
for rabies. The bite mark from a bat can be very
small and hard to see. Bats that are found
indoors near a sleeping person, young child,
adult that cannot speak, or pet should also be
tested for rabies. In these cases, try to gently
trap the bat without touching it (such as
covering it with a bucket), and call your local
animal control agency. To see a list of local
animal control agencies, click here. You should also talk to your doctor and/or veterinarian in
these situations.
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MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES - Click
HERE for CDC podcasts, videos, eCards and
more about RABIES!
Lecture about rabies in Los Angeles County 2011
Centers for Disease Control - Rabies pages
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
web pages
Local Rabies Overview
Rabies Control Manual
Human rabies
2013 rabid bat
map
2004 - 2013
rabid bat map
Last updated February 11, 2016
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