Los Angeles and Ventura counties are experiencing a notable increase in rabies cases among bats as the season peaks. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported that 2026 has already matched the record for rabid bats detected in a single year, confirming 69 cases to date.
Local incidents
One rabid bat was found on August 22 on a sidewalk near Village Center Road and Greengate Court in Westlake Village, outside a business center in the First Neighborhood. In Calabasas, two bats tested positive – one in April, found alive but sluggish near a home’s front door, and another in September, located between a garage and driveway, potentially exposing a dog.
Ventura County animal services confirmed 28 rabies‑positive bats as of September 21, accounting for more than 22% of all bats tested this year. The county identified four cases in Thousand Oaks, nine in Simi Valley, eight in Camarillo, and noted a high likelihood of infected bats in Moorpark due to its proximity to Simi Valley.
Historical context and possible causes
Rabid‑bat detections in Ventura County rose to 22 last year, after six cases in 2024, four in 2023, six in 2022, and four in 2021. Officials have not pinpointed a single cause for the recent surge, but cite warmer, drier conditions that may affect bat food sources and behavior, increased public reporting as awareness grows, and expanding development that brings people closer to wildlife.
In Los Angeles County, positive bat specimens have been trending upward for more than a decade, appearing in neighborhoods across the San Fernando Valley, downtown offices, parks, schools, businesses and homes. August alone saw 24 positive tests, representing 32% of resident‑reported bats, which is typical for the late‑summer peak.
Safety guidance
Health officials stress that one‑third of bat encounters occur indoors, raising the risk of exposure. “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,” said L.A. County Health Officer Muntu Davis.
Residents are urged to never touch a bat or any wild animal. If a bat is found indoors, appears sick, is active during the day, cannot fly, or is dead, it should be reported immediately to local animal control or public health. Anyone who may have been exposed should contact a medical provider promptly for possible post‑exposure vaccination.
Pet vaccination requirements
Rabies vaccination remains mandatory for dogs throughout California. Cats must be vaccinated in unincorporated L.A. County and in the cities of Calabasus, Hidden Hills, Westlake Village and Moorpark.
Human rabies cases are exceedingly rare in the United States. Ventura County has never recorded a locally acquired human case, and the last such case in Los Angeles County occurred in 1949.
Original reporting: Thousand Oaks Acorn — read the source article.
