The Santa Clarita Valley remains in the top spot for more rabid bats in Los Angeles County, but Glendale and Burbank aren’t too far behind.

Twenty rabid bats have been found in L.A. County so far this year, with six of them coming from the Santa Clarita Valley. Glendale and Burbank combined have five.

1. Calabasas. January. Bat found alive outdoors at a school.

2. La Canada Flintridge. March. Bat found outdoors at a public park.

3. Los Angeles (Downtown). April. Bat found in 23rd floor of an office building.

4. Castaic. April. Bat found on ground outside of a garage at a home.

5. Los Angeles (northern Griffith Park area). April. Bat found alive on ground in a park.

6. Santa Clarita (Newhall). May. Bat flew into home through an open door and landed in kitchen sink.

7. Los Angeles (northern Griffith Park area). May. Bat found alive on ground in a park.

8. Santa Clarita (Newhall). June. Dog found bat in back yard, ate part of bat. Two dogs in home put under home quarantine/rabies observation.

9. Los Angeles (northern Griffith Park area). June. Bat found alive on ground in a park.

10. Monrovia. June. Bat found alive outside on a porch, underneath a chair.

11. Glendale (southern end). June. Bat was hanging from a wall. It fell to the ground.

12. Santa Clarita (Newhall area). June. Found bat crawling on garage floor at a home.

13. Glendale (southern end). June. Bat found alive outdoors at a home.

14. Glendale (southern end). July. Juvenile bat found on sidewalk outside of a business. A resident picked it up and delivered it to a veterinary practice. This situation presented a risk of rabies exposure for the resident. Bat bites can be very small (especially bites form a juvenile bat) and may not be immediately recognized by the bite victim as presenting the risk of rabies transmission.

15. Glendale (southern end). July. Bat found on ground in parking lot at an apartment building.

16. La Cañada Flintridge. July. Bat found in driveway of a home.

17. Los Angeles (Elyisian Valley area). July. Bat found in alley behind a business.

18. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). August. Bat found on street.

19. Santa Clarita (Newhall). August. Bat found by window inside a house.

20. Burbank. August. Bat found on the grounds of a school, not near students.

Bats are the animals that are most commonly diagnosed with rabies in Los Angeles County. However, only about 1 percent of bats in nature are infected with rabies.

Most bats do not have rabies. They try to avoid contact with people and pets. Bats are good for the environment because they eat insects and pollinate plants. Bats are also protected by law.

However, bats seen flying in daylight, or found on the ground, are more likely to have rabies.

Never touch a bat or other wild animal. If you pick up a bat with your bare hands, you may be bitten and exposed to rabies.
Bats that bite a person or pet should be tested for rabies. The bite mark from a bat can be very small and hard to see.

Bats that are found indoors near a sleeping person, young child, adult that cannot speak, or pet should also be tested for rabies. In these cases, try to gently trap the bat without touching it (such as covering it with a bucket), and call your local animal control agency. You should also talk to your doctor and/or veterinarian in these situations.