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It’s been raining. Winter is nearly here. So why are we discussing rabid bats?

Because two more turned up in Canyon Country in November.

That brings to 39 the total number of rabid bats identified in Los Angeles County in 2014. Of those, more than half – 20 – were found in the Santa Clarita Valley.

By comparison, the SCV has less than 3 percent of the county’s human population.

This year’s rabid bat season has been a long one, stretching from February to – well, November, if it’s over. The long dry spell might account for it.

There were 39 rabid bats but actually 40 rabies cases in L.A. County this year. The rabies virus is usually found in bats, but over the summer, a rabid skunk turned up in Long Beach. It had been bitten by an infected bat.

That said, most bats don’t have rabies. Fewer than 1 percent are sick, and just because a bat is sick doesn’t necessarily mean it has rabies. Take one of the cases in Canyon Country last month as an example. Three or four bats were sick, but just one tested positive for rabies.

Bottom line, if you see a bat flying around during the daytime, or bothering the family pet, or hanging around its food dish, or flopping around on the ground, or falling out of a tree and biting you on the shoulder (that actually happened in Acton a couple of years ago) – grab the old 12-gauge and start blasting away. Or better yet, call Animal Control at (818) 367-8065 and let the professionals take care of it.

Rabid Bats, Los Angeles County, 2014 (Dept. of Public Health)

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.

14. Santa Clarita (Newhall). July. Bat found on ground in front of a garage. Hissed when approached.

15. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). July. Bat found outside of a home.

16. Stevenson Ranch. July. Bat found alive outside a home.

17. La Canada Flintridge. July. Bat found alive outside a home.

18. Santa Clarita (Newhall). August. Two dogs playing with dead bat. Dogs not up to date on rabies vaccines, so placed under 6 month home quarantine.

19. Encino. July. Bat found on sidewalk in business area.

20. Santa Clarita (Newhall). July. Bat found alive hanging on side of a house in daytime.

21. Santa Clarita (Saugus). August. Bat found alive outside a home.

22. Santa Clarita. August. Bat found in the mouth of dog. Two dogs on property likely had contact. The dogs’ rabies vaccinations were current, so their vaccination will boostered, and they will be under a home quarantine for one month.

23. Santa Clarita (Newhall). August. Bat found in side yard, hissing a lot.

24. Santa Clarita (Newhall). August. Bat seen clinging to outside of kitchen window screen, Later found on ground.

25. South Pasadena. August. Bat found alive on patio. Resident very aware of risk of rabies – immediately covered bat with container and called Animal Control.

26. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). August. Bat found outside of a home.

27. Los Angeles (Los Feliz). August. Bat found lying on its back on a sidewalk.

28. Canoga Park. August. Bat found in pool. Fished out using net. Was still sitting in same place next day.

29. Santa Clarita (Newhall). September. Bat found in backyard. Flew toward resident. Two dogs and one cat spent were potentially in the yard with the bat, to be quarantined.

30. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). September. Bat found clinging to outside wall, in daytime, on second story of a business.

31. Topanga. September. Bat found outdoors at a business. At least one person handled bat with bare hands, advised to seek medical attention for possible rabies exposure.

32. Santa Clarita (Saugus). September. Bat found in a garage.

33. Encino. September. Bat found in a storage unit.

34. Azusa. October. Bat found by a dog. Bat was alive on ground, lying on its back. Dog was up-to-date on rabies vaccination, so it got a booster vaccination and was placed under a 30 day quarantine.

35. Hollywood. October. Bat found alive and weak on sidewalk in front of shop. Resident scooped into into styrofoam cup using piece of cardboard, and placed cover on cup and called animal control.

36. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). November. Bat found alive near a garage door in front of a house.

37. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). November. Four sick bats found on ground at home over one week. First two tested negative for rabies, third one tested positive. Fourth bat was discarded, not tested.

38. Woodland Hills. November. Bat seen flying in bedroom at night where two people were sleeping. Search for bat was unsuccessful. Bat seen again flying in bedroom next night – bat caught and submitted for rabies testing – positive. Two people referred to doctor for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.

39. Santa Clarita (Canyon Country). November. Bat found alive on the patio at a home.