Los Angeles County confirmed 69 rabid bats in 2026 as of Sept. 28, matching last year's record with peak bat season still underway.

The LA County Department of Public Health issued the warning on World Rabies Day, urging residents never to touch bats and to seek medical care after any possible exposure. The county has seen a steady upward trend in rabid bat detections for more than a decade, according to the department.

In August alone, 24 rabid bats were confirmed. Nearly one in three bats submitted by residents for testing that month came back positive.

"Bats are an important part of our environment, but they can be infected with and spread rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear," Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County health officer, said in a statement. "If you find a bat indoors or think you may have had contact with one, contact your medical provider or Public Health right away."

Santa Clarita Valley accounted for 68% of the 69 detections, consistent with a decade-long pattern. Most were Canyon Bats, suggesting rabies may be circulating more intensely within that local population. The department said increased public awareness from years of outreach in Santa Clarita may partly explain the higher detection rate there, but the numbers still represent a real public health concern.

Rabid bats have turned up across the county, including the San Fernando Valley and downtown Los Angeles. They have been found in office buildings, parks, schools, businesses and residential backyards. About one-third of bat encounters occur indoors, where exposure risk is higher.

The threat is not limited to bats.

On Oct. 15, the LA County Department of Animal Care and Control confirmed a rabid raccoon in Westlake Village, the first such case in Los Angeles County since 1973. Officials said the raccoon likely contracted the virus from a bat.

DACC Director Marcia Mayeda said rabies is 100% fatal in animals and humans once symptoms appear, and urged pet owners to keep vaccinations current. The department's Vet@ThePark program offers free rabies vaccines, microchips and wellness exams at locations across the county.

Bat bites feel like a pinprick and can go unnoticed during sleep. The department said anyone who wakes up to find a bat in the room, or finds one near a sleeping person, child or pet, should treat it as a possible exposure. If possible, residents should cover the bat with a box or container and call animal control for collection and testing.

In recent years, about 17% of bats encountered by people or pets in LA County have tested positive for rabies. That rate climbs as high as 33% in late summer, according to the department.

Residents can bat-proof their homes by sealing openings as small as a quarter-inch by half-inch, installing wire mesh over vents and using window screens and chimney caps. More information is available at ph.lacounty.gov/rabies.