In a repeat of the last four years, the Santa Clarita Valley appears to be leading Los Angeles County in … rabid bats.

The SCV’s fifth rabid bat of the season was verified earlier this month in Canyon Country, where it was found alive outside of a home. (It then died.)

Those five bats represent just about 40 percent of the 13 rabid bats found across Los Angeles County so far in 2014. That’s on par with the last few years, which saw an unexplained spike in the number of bats overall, a preponderance of them turning up in the SCV.

While bats are the most common carriers of rabies, county Public Health officials note that fewer than 1 percent of all bats are infected.

If you see a bat flying around in the daytime, or floundering around on the ground, or messing with Fido’s food dish or, well, dead – don’t touch it. Not sure how many times we can repeat that, but don’t touch it. You’d be surprised how many people touch it. It’s like they think they’re invincible. Resist. Throw a bowl or something over it if you really must contain it. Just don’t touch it.

Instead, call Animal Control in Castaic at (661) 257-3191. Let them touch it. They’re paid to do that sort of thing.

Summary of the 13 rabid bats found in L.A. County in 2014 to date:

1. Agua Dulce. February. Dead bat found in swimming pool.

2. Los Angeles (West LA). February. Cat found bat in back yard, on ground. Cat placed under quarantine.

3. Santa Clarita (Newhall). April. Bat seen during the day hanging on an outside wall at a residence. It flew away and was later found on the ground.

4. Palmdale. April. Bat found alive at park. Park patron alerted park authorities, who submitted bat for testing.

5. Los Angeles (Koreatown). April. Bat found on an outside stairwell, was lifted by tip of wing and moved to sidewalk by employee.

6. Los Angeles (Century City). April. Bat found flying around in daylight under an awning at a business. Bat fell to ground, was covered with a box, and Animal Control called.

7. Topanga. April. Bat found alive outside a home.

8. Monrovia. May. Bat found alive inside living room of a home. Unknown how long it had been in house. One vaccinated dog and three people in home had  potential for unrecognized bite. People referred to medical care for rabies post-exposure treatment, and dog will be quarantined at home and observed for 30 days.

9. Santa Clarita (Newhall). June. Bat found on patio. It was staggering as it walked. Resident covered bat with pool net until animal control arrived, and kept dog away from it.

10. Los Angeles (Mar Vista). June. Dog caught bat while it was flying in a park in daylight. Person bitten while trying to remove bat from dog. Person sought medical care. Dog was up-to-date on rabies vaccine before incident, was re-vaccinated after and quarantined for a month.

11. Santa Clarita (Newhall). June. Bat found inside a garage.

12. Bradbury. July.  Live bat found in back yard. Bit person when picked up. A cat then attacked bat and a dog got near it, possibly came in direct contact. Neither pet was up-to-date on it rabies vaccination. Person referred for medical care. Dog and cat referred for veterinary care for rabies vaccination, placed under 6 month quarantines to observe for rabies.

13. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). July. Bat found alive on ground outside a home.