The Santa Clarita Valley is the undisputed county leader.
More than half of the rabid bats identified across Los Angeles County so far this year – 11 of 21 – were found in the SCV.
By comparison, the SCV sports less than 3 percent of the county’s human population.
The rabies virus has been on the upswing in SoCal the last four years, and health officials aren’t sure why.
In each of those four years, roughly half of the cases have been in the SCV.
The latest bat with rabies was found this month in Newhall. It was quite resilient. It flew into a pool, then crawled out and clung to a wall.
Also this month in Valencia, a rabid bat was found hanging on a garage door in Valencia. It was alive.
Earlier this month in Saugus, according to health officials, “Two dogs stepped out (the) back door of a home; person with them heard hissing sound. Found bat on ground near door. Both dogs potentially had direct contact, and will be quarantined at home and observed for rabies.”
It underscores the point that you need to keep Fido’s shots current. Pets that have been inoculated are placed under home arrest for about 30 days. Uninoculated pets can be subjected to a 6-month quarantine.
Remember: Rabies usually occurs in bats, but not all bats have rabies. Less than 1 percent do. If you see a bat flying in the daytime, or bothering the family pet or its food dish, or flopping around on the ground, or dead, it could be a carrier. Don’t touch it (duh), call the Castaic Animal Shelter at (818) 367-8065.
Rabid bats, 2015 to date, L.A. County
1. Sierra Madre. January. Bat found alive under a tree and behind a fence in secluded area of a business.
2. Santa Clarita (Saugus). March. Dog carrying live bat it around in its mouth in yard. The dog’s rabies vaccination was up-to-date. The dog received a booster vaccination, and will be monitored for rabies for 30 days.
3. Bell Gardens. March. Bat found alive hanging from eaves of a home.
4. Los Angeles (Brentwood area). March. Bat found alive on ground in front yard. Vaccinated dogs in yard with bat will be observed for rabies for 30 days.
5. Calabasas. March. Bat found in isolated area on second floor of an office complex.
6. Palmdale. April. Bat found in outdoor patio area at a school. Children were indoors at the time, away from bat.
7. Santa Clarita (Newhall). April. Bat found in bushes in front yard of a home.
8. Altadena. April. Dog picked up rabid bat in mouth, carried it into house.
9. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country).May. Bat found dead on walkway between two apartment complexes. Posters placed to advise residents.
10. Santa Clarita (Saugus). June. Bat found dead in yard of a home.
11. Calabasas June. Bat found alive in the yard of a home.
12. Santa Clarita (Valencia). July. Bat found alive in backyard.
13. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). July. Bat found clinging to side of a building at a business.
14. Santa Clarita (Saugus). July. Rabid bat found alive on ground in alley near a business.
15. Santa Clarita (Stevenson Ranch). July. Bat found dead, on a front porch.
16. Glendale. July. Bat found outdoors at a busy intersection.
17. Whittier. July. Pet flew into a business, hit a window and fell to floor. Staff member covered it with a box and called animal control.
18. Santa Clarita (Saugus). August. Two dogs stepped out back door of a home, person with them heard hissing sound. Found bat on ground near door. Both dogs potentially had direct contact, and will be quarantined at home and observed for rabies.
19. Lakewood. August. Rabid bat found dead on a driveway.
20. Santa Clarita (Valencia). August. Bat found alive, hanging on a garage door.
21. Santa Clarita (Newhall). August. Bat flew into pool, and then crawled out and hung on nearby wall.
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75 Comments
???
Jenn Portillo-Lagusker
Joseph Pierce
I had no idea
Yes so bad in Saugus !!!
Saw bats at Central Park last night during walk thanks for letting me know!
bats flying at night should be OK .. it’s the ones that fly during the daytime that you need to worry about :)
Thanks for the information!!
Andrea! Holy Batman, first tarantulas now this! Read the comments they are in your area
Eeeeeeeeeek!! I’d take a bat over a freaking tarantula ANY DAY!!!
But they are rabid
Jennifer Hernandez
Tyvm Gayle Mendoza
Jaimie, check this out ?
WE’RE NUMBER ONE! WE’RE NUMBER ONE!
So remember to to stay current on Rabies vaccines for your pets!!
Had one fly in my house, hit the ceiling fan and ricochet off the darn thing and landed in my lap.. I freaked out.. Here I was laying in my couch enjoying a movie and then all hell broke loose:-(
Omg!! The same happened to my son a couple of days ago. He had his room window open at night and had one fly in his room towers the ceiling fan too!! It scared the hell out of him.
Oh no no no no!
Kim Audet….15 minutes of unexpected aerobics, I understand all too well, had one barnstorm me in the backyard the other evening.
My family and I were out for a walkabout half an hour ago. As we were passing Whispering Leaves street (in Newhall) a bat swooped by my head several times as I was walking my dog!! Then I just read this article and totally freaked out!
Also had a scorpion in my laundry room another 5 minutes of unexpected aerobics!
Lol!
Crystal Marie Teran excuse me
Caroline Condon
I live the houses behind whole foods next to the wash and the bike path….. I see bits every night!
Sean White
Elizabeth Von Busch you might have something in your argument against Betty.
Told ya.
?
I never seen a bat ???
I bet you have. Probably didn’t realize it. Maybe thought it was a bird. If it’s flying at night around here, it’s probably a bat.
Matt Kamlet…see! My fear is substantiated!
OMG Candy! When I saw this I thought of you! I’m not going to the ranch at night any more!!!
I don’t have a choice if I want to see Nixon ?
Gianna Yarbrough
Crazy that we have bats!!
11 of 21…. Candy Slaughter. But out of how many bats total
All the stats are on the LA public health website, they keep it fairly up to date usually
Megan will you please tell Candy there is nothing to worry about…
Pfft
Haha, if you see a bat flying normally at night its fine. If you see a sick/injured/dead bat during the day walk the other way and call animal control. Their rabies doesnt make them aggressive, it makes them sick and confused
And even then they may not be rabid. I found a sick one once and took it for testing but it wasnt rabid. It was just dying.
All over sand canyon
Julie Cieto
Maybe we can start to catch them and give them rabies shots.
Bats…
Mike Guz-man
Marisa Cano
Omg… That’s why I sat under patio!!! Lol
It came so close to our heads!
Melissa
I see them every where even in daylight
^^Lol
Rabies has been on the rise in LA county for several years and they do not know why. Always upsets me when owners dont want to vaccinate their pets, especially indoor only cats. Less than 1% of the bat population has rabies BUT if they do have it they get sick and confused and often fly into open doors/windows/chimneys and then indoor cats find them fun to play with! Vaccinate your pets! And if you find a sick/injured/dead bat call animal control to pick it up, it needs to be tested for rabies. And if you are exposed you may need post exposure vaccinations. If your unvaccinated pet is exposed LA county public health may require them to be euthanized. So vaccinate!
Jayson Elliott Gentry
April Cornejo Omg the SCV is turning into Gotham City. Gotta stay on the lookout for Batman.
Dina Magdy I told u ???
Am mortified now it’s time to move out ?
Loll!!! I have not gone out my front door in weeks, because i know its always out there. ?
Yeah don’t..lock yourself and the kids inside forever
??? don’t worry I use the garage door to let myself in and out. Until I see a mouse in there. Then I’m screwed….!!
Noooo? why would we buy fake bats and mice in Halloween then thanks SCV
Oh lordy…
Elvira Manzano-Acosta Joni Young
EEEEEWWWWW!!!
Gross!
Haahaha. Our bats are clean up here.
We were at Central park last night to..there were a few bats flying around
Jorge Vega
Hide yo kids hide yo wife!!!!!
Lol
Lol scary
Watch out Santa Clarita all the blood suckered are moving in!