Los Angeles County has confirmed 69 rabid bats so far in 2026, tying last year's record with peak season still underway, the county Department of Public Health said on Sept. 28, World Rabies Day. Officials said 24 rabid bats were confirmed in August alone, and nearly one in three bats that residents submitted for testing that month were positive.
For families, the most important new detail is where these encounters happen. The county says one-third of bat encounters occur indoors, where exposure risk is higher, and a bite from a bat can be small enough to go unnoticed by a sleeping child.
That changes the practical question for households. It is no longer just about staying away from bats outside, but about what to do when one appears in a bedroom at night.
Record-Tying Count Arrives with Peak Season Still Underway
The new total is three higher than the 66 bats MedicalDaily reported in its earlier look at the county's near-record count, which was based on the county's Sept. 21 map update. The county's final 2025 tally of 69 is the record, surpassing the 68 bats counted in 2021 that earlier reports, including MedicalDaily's, cited as the high mark.
Rabid bats have turned up across the county, from the San Fernando Valley to downtown Los Angeles, in offices, parks, schools, businesses, and backyards. About 68% of this year's rabid bats came from the Santa Clarita Valley, mostly canyon bats, CBS Los Angeles reported.
Officials said years of local outreach in Santa Clarita may partly explain the higher detection there, because more residents know to report bats. They added that the numbers still reflect a real public health concern.
The share of infected bats is also notable. In recent years, about 17% of bats that encountered people or pets in the county tested positive, rising to as high as 33% in late summer. Bats seen during the day, on the ground, or unable to fly may be sick and should be reported rather than handled.
Bedrooms, Sleeping Children, and Unnoticed Bites
Rabies spreads when saliva or tissue from an infected animal enters the body through a bite, scratch, or contact with a wound, eyes, nose, or mouth. Bat bites can feel like a pinprick and may leave no obvious mark.
That is why the county says anyone who wakes up with a bat in the room, or finds a bat near a sleeping person, child, or pet, should treat it as a possible exposure. The same applies to anyone who cannot reliably report contact, such as a young child or a person who was intoxicated. Dr. Muntu Davis, the Los Angeles County health officer, urged anyone who finds a bat indoors or thinks they had contact with one to contact "your medical provider or Public Health right away," LAist reported.
Children face the greatest risk because they may pick up a bat or not mention it. Pets are also at risk, since dogs and cats often catch grounded bats, and the county stresses vaccinating indoor-only cats and older pets too.
"Bats are an important part of our environment, but they can be infected with and spread rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear," Davis said in the county's release.
Once symptoms appear, there is no reliable treatment. Before symptoms, a series of shots called post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, prevents the disease, which makes prompt reporting the step that matters most.
Containing a Bat Can Spare a Family Costly Shots
The single most useful action is simple: do not let the bat go. If it is safe, cover the bat with a box or container without touching it, keep children and pets out of the room, and call animal control so the bat can be tested.
Testing can change the outcome. A CDC health advisory on rising rabies exposures, issued Sept. 10, says PEP costs between $11,000 and $14,000 per person and is not recommended when the animal tests negative for rabies. A bat that escapes cannot be tested, which often means treating everyone who may have been exposed.
The same advisory said national use of rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin has risen sharply this year, though there is currently no shortage. Families should ask their insurer how treatment is covered.
Residents can reach the county's Veterinary Public Health program at 213-288-7060 or contact local animal control. If anyone was bitten or scratched, wash the area with soap and water and contact a clinician right away. The county also recommends sealing openings of a quarter inch by half an inch or larger and using window screens and chimney caps. More guidance is on the county's rabies information page.
Key Questions Answered
How many rabid bats has LA County found in 2026? The county confirmed 69 as of Sept. 28, tying last year's record, with peak season still underway.
What should I do if I find a bat in my child's bedroom? Do not touch it or let it go. Cover it with a container if safe, keep people and pets away, call animal control, and contact a doctor or Public Health right away.
Why does a bat near a sleeping person count as exposure? Bat bites can be tiny and may not wake a sleeping person, so officials treat these situations as possible exposures.
How much do rabies shots cost? The CDC says PEP costs $11,000 to $14,000 per person. Testing the bat can help avoid unnecessary treatment.
Who do I call in Los Angeles County? Veterinary Public Health at 213-288-7060, or your local animal control agency.
Do indoor pets need rabies vaccines? Yes. The county says indoor-only cats and older pets should be vaccinated.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
