Health · Public Health & Disease · 11 hrs ago
Los Angeles County reports record 76 rabid bats in 2026
Los Angeles County officials have found 76 rabid bats in 2026, above the previous record of 69 set last year.
The bats have been found across the county, including in homes, parks, schools and backyards.
This month, a raccoon in Westlake Village tested positive for rabies, the first confirmed rabid raccoon in the area in more than 50 years.
Its infection was a strain carried by local bats, suggesting it was bitten nearby.
A dog that encountered the raccoon and four people at a nearby worksite were treated for possible exposure.
Rabies can be prevented with prompt treatment after exposure, but it is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.
Officials say a bat bite or scratch may be hard to see, so people should avoid contact with bats and seek advice if they may have been exposed.
Los Angeles County reported 76 rabid bats in 2026, exceeding the previous record of 69 set last year.
The bats were found in locations across the county, including homes, parks, schools and businesses.
The county said a raccoon in Westlake Village tested positive for a strain of rabies carried by bats commonly found in Los Angeles.
A dog and four people at a nearby worksite were treated for possible rabies exposure.
- Who
- The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported the cases. A raccoon, a dog and four people were also involved in the reported exposure.
- What
- The county found 76 rabid bats in 2026, a record. A raccoon also tested positive for rabies.
- When
- The bat count was reported in October 2026. The first bat in the reported surge was found in January.
- Where
- Los Angeles County, including Westlake Village, where the raccoon was found.
- Why
- The articles say the raccoon tested positive for a strain carried by local bats, suggesting it was bitten nearby. They do not state why the number of rabid bats rose.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A bat was found alive on the ground in a backyard near a dog in La Cañada Flintridge.
A raccoon in Westlake Village tested positive for rabies, the first such sighting in the area in more than 50 years.
The county reported 76 rabid bats, surpassing the previous record of 69 set the prior year.
- Rabid bats
- 76 found in Los Angeles County in 2026
- Previous record
- 69, set in 2025
- First reported bat
- Found in January in La Cañada Flintridge
- Raccoon location
- Westlake Village
- Possible exposures
- One dog and four people treated after contact with the raccoon
What people are saying
Rabid bats have been found in every part of Los Angeles County, from suburban areas such as the San Fernando Valley to urban areas like downtown Los Angeles, in office buildings, parks, schools, businesses and residential backyards.
Bats have tiny teeth, and a bite or scratch from a tooth may not leave a lasting mark but may still transmit rabies.