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In 2012, a total of 56 rabid bats were found in
Los Angeles County. This
was, by far, the highest
number detected in our county in one year, since testing
of bats began in 1961. The prior record was set last
year, when 38 rabid bats were detected. During
most years, only 8-10 rabid bats have been found.
Twelve people and 14 pets had potential exposure to
these rabid bats. The cause for the increase is unknown.
Most bats in nature do NOT have rabies.
Read more about it in the lower right section of this
page.
Below is a list of the incidents in which
rabid bats were found:
1. Santa Clarita. January. Bat
found alive on floor in barn. Three cats in barn
potentially exposed. The cats were not fully vaccinated,
so must be observed for symptoms rabies for six months.
2. Los Angeles. March. Bat found
alive in a backyard. Two dogs out in yard potentially
exposed. The dogs were up-to-date on their vaccinations
and will be observed for symptoms of rabies for one
month.
3. Westlake Village. Apr. Dead
bat found clutching side of wall at a private home.
4. Whittier. Apr. Bat found
alive on ground.
5. Palmdale. Apr. Dead bat found
in flowerbed.
6. Palmdale. May. Dead bat found
on grass.
7. Van Nuys. May. Bat found alive
on sidewalk.
8. Porter Ranch. June. Bat found
alive outside of a home.
9. Irwindale. June. Bat
found alive in snack area in park.
10. Los Angeles. June. Bat
found alive at a school.
11. Santa Clarita. June. Bat flew
in through back door of a workplace.
12. Azusa. June. Bat flew to
ground near forestry service officer.
13. Pasadena. June. Weak-appearing
bat seen crawling in through front door of a building
(info shared by Pasadena Dept of Public Health).
14. Hollywood. July. Bat found
dead in closet in apartment.
15. Glendale. July. Cat carried
bat in mouth from outdoors into house.
16. Santa Clarita. July. Bat found
dead at a home.
17. Atwater Village. July. Bat
found dead outside of apartment building.
18. Pasadena. July. Bat found dead
outside near a tree (info shared by Pasadena Dept of
Public Health).
19. Glendale. Bat found alive in
backyard under a chair.
20. Covina. July. Dog attacked
rabid bat in back yard. Dog will be quarantined.
21. Burbank. July. Bat
found alive at a residential facility. Bat was found in
daytime inside a restroom that opens to outdoors.
22. Westlake Village. July. Group
of three bats found alive on ground outside a home. Only
one of the three had rabies. Dog may have had contact
with bats, will be revaccinated and quarantined at home.
23. Monrovia. July. Live bat found
outside a home.
24. and 25. Santa Clarita. July. Two live bats
seen clinging to side of home near trash containers.
Both rabid.
26. Santa Clarita. July. Bat found alive outdoors
at a home.
27. Northridge. July. Bat found alive in a
garage.
28. Sierra Madre. Aug. Bat found alive in a
driveway.
29. Acton. Aug. Live bat fell
on person, bit them on shoulder.
30. Santa Clarita. Aug. Bat found alive
outside on a patio.
31. Northridge. Aug. Bat found in a bedroom
where 5 people were sleeping.
32. Newhall. Aug. Bat found alive outdoors.
33. and 34. Woodland Hills. Aug. Two bats (one
alive, one dead) found inside a home. Two people
plus a cat potentially exposed to rabies.
35. Chatsworth. Aug. Bat was
seen flying into a home through open window. Was covered
with a box.
36. Saugus. Aug. Bat found dead
in a pool.
37. Valencia. Aug. Bat found alive under a
car.
38. Sierra Madre. Aug. Bat
found alive outside a home.
39. Glendale. August. Bat found
alive outside, in a parking area.
40. Altadena. Aug. Bat found
alive at a home.
41. Santa Clarita. Aug. Bat
found alive outside when a dog was barking at it.
42. Santa Clarita. Aug. Bat
found on ground near a pool. Was moved off into bushes
by resident. Bat later found walking back toward pool.
43. Santa Clarita. Aug. Bat
seen hanging above a doorway for two days without
moving.
44. Topanga. Sept. Bat found alive
at a home.
45. Santa Clarita. Sept. Bat found
dead on a driveway at a home.
46. Malibu. Sept. Bat found inside
a home.
47. Chatsworth. Sept. Bat found in
a backyard. Resident thought it was a leaf until it
hissed. No pets or people in contact with it.
48. Burbank. Aug. Bat found on
ground in a parking structure.
49. Hollywood. Sept. Bat flew into
a shop in daylight, landed, was moved outdoors by
workers, and flew back inside a couple of minutes later.
50. West Hills. Sept. Live bat
found in backyard where two dogs were kept.
51. Santa Monica. Sept. Bat that
looked injured seen outside window.
52. Woodland Hills. Sept. Bat seen
alive on back patio.
53. Altadena. Bat seen alive on
ground. Resident thought it was a leaf at first.
54. Castaic. Oct. Bat found alive
under a lawnmower. Dog quarantined in home and observed
for rabies in case it got near bat.
55. Canyon Country. Nov. Bat found
alive in a pool clinging to a hose.
56. Encino. Dec. Bat found inside
a home. Dog chased down
and killed a rabid bat. Dog placed under home quarantine
to be observed for potential development of rabies
symptoms.
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BATS AND RABIES
Bats are the animals that most commonly carry rabies in
our 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.
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.
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
In 2011, a total of 38 rabid
bats were found. At the time, this had been the largest number of
rabid bats detected in a single year since LA County
began testing bats for rabies in the early 1960s. In
most years, 8-10 rabid bats are discovered. The reason
for the increase was unknown. Click
here to see the 2011 map.
To see a map of all rabid bats found in Los Angeles
County from 2000 through 2010. click
here.
Last updated: January 18, 2013
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