Bat Rabies in the News

Los Angeles County health officials on Wednesday announced that more than 60 rabid bats have been found so far this year, marking the second-highest total ever recorded....  The 61 bats, second only to the 68 reported in 2021, are keeping with a "decade-long upward trend," according to a release from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. They said that approximately 14% of the bats that come into contact with people or pets in the county have tested positive for rabies, with numbers that spiked in the late summer.

Keep your pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccines. Stay away from wildlife and stray animals, and make sure your pets do as well. Also teach children not to handle or approach unfamiliar animals. If you see a wild animal such as a fox or raccoon behaving unusually, do not get close, and contact animal control instead. In addition, try to prevent bats from getting inside your home through windows, chimneys or other holes. Most importantly, if you, a family member or a pet is potentially exposed to rabies, seek medical care immediately.

Health officials are working to alert hundreds of people in dozens of states and several countries who may have been exposed to rabies in bat-infested cabins in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park over the past few months.

Pierre, South Dakota, USA. The Great Plains Zoo (GPZ) reported one bat on its campus, found between the pollinator garden and the farm, that tested positive for rabies. The bat was found between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm on Friday, May 9, 2025, and was removed by animal care staff. “No guests were known to have contact with the bat. Zoo animals, veterinary team members, and designated animal care staff are routinely vaccinated against rabies.