As the 2015 rabies season draws to a close, the Santa Clarita Valley has emerged as Los Angeles County’s uncontested leader in rabies cases.

More than half of all rabies reports across L.A. County this year –56 percent – emanated from the Santa Clarita Valley, according to public health officials.

Rabies is most often detected in bats. Of the 34 rabid bats identified in the county this year, 19 were found in the SCV – including the most recent one that was found dead in a yard in Valencia this week.

By comparison, the SCV is home to less than 3 percent of the human population.

Rabies has been on the rise the last five years, and public health officials don’t know why. Previously, just eight to 10 cases were reported annually across the entire county. Lately the figure has been closer to 40, and of those, almost half have turned up in the SCV.

Almost. This is the first year the SCV has accounted for significantly more than half.

While bats are the most common carriers, public health officials note that less than 1 percent of bats have rabies.

Normal bats fly at night and try to avoid contact with people and pets.

But if you see a bat flying in the daytime, or bothering the family pet, or expressing an interest in Fido’s food dish, or flopping around on the ground, or clinging to an exterior wall in daylight, or dead – it’s a sign the bat is probably sick.

Don’t touch it. Instead call Animal Control (the Castaic Animal Shelter) at 661-257-3191 and let the professionals deal with it.

And make sure Fido and Fifi are inoculated. Dogs seem to like to carry bats around in their mouths, and if an unvaccinated pet is exposed, it can be subject to 6 months’ quarantine. Vaccinated pets usually get off with 30 days’ house arrest.

L.A. County’s Rabid Bats, 2015

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.
22. Los Angeles (West Hills). August. Bat found alive on ground near entrance to a school. Adult removed bat and taken to wildlife rehabilitation facility.
23. Santa Clarita (Valencia). August. Bat found alive on a second story patio outside of a business.
24. Acton. August. Bat found dead just outside a home.
25. Palmdale. August. Bat found alive, stick between screen door and sliding door of a home.
26. Santa Clarita (Newhall). August. Bat found alive by hikers on a park trail.
27. Los Angeles (Tarzana). August. Bat found outside of a medical facility. Bat was taken to a veterinary clinic, then to an animal shelter.
28. Santa Clarita (Valencia). August. Bat alive, clinging to stucco above front door to a home.
29. Santa Monica. August. Found alive under table in backyard of a home.
30. Santa Clarita (Valencia). September. Bat found alive near front door of a home.
31. Santa Clarita (Valencia). September. Live bat sitting on floor of a front porch for more than 48 hours. A vaccinated dog sniffed at the bat and possibly had close contact, will be quarantined and observed for rabies for 30 days.
32. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). October. Live bat found on patio in yard. Was covered with flower pot until Animal Control officer arrived to pick it up for rabies testing.
33. Altadena. October. Live bat was on underside of table in home. Bit one person who was near bat. Unknown how long bat was in home. Vaccinated dog in home possibly exposed. Dog’s rabies vaccination boostered right away, placed under 30 day home  quarantine.
34. Santa Clarita (Valencia). November. Bat found dead in yard.