Bats
the primary source of rabies in LA County; never touch a bat with bare hands
Rabies rising
in 2026, the first rabid raccoon since 1973, as well as the highest number of rabid bats were detected in LA
Seek care
contact your doctor if bitten by or exposed to any wild animal or bat
Vaccinate pets
pets current on rabies vaccine face only a 30-day quarantine if exposed vs. 6 months if unvaccinated
This page is for the general public and pet owners. Looking for something else?
Scrub thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes. If available, also use an antiseptic like povidone-iodine. This can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
Contact your doctor or go to urgent care or an emergency room. Tell them what animal bit you and where it happened. Your doctor may recommend antibiotics or other treatments and can evaluate the risk that you were exposed to rabies. Public Health is available for consultation at 213-288-7060 or vet@ph.lacounty.gov. Do not delay: treatment is most effective when started promptly.
All mammal bites must be reported to Public Health. See Animal Bite Reporting below.
Keep your pet away from other animals and people. Do not let them roam freely or interact with other animals until you have spoken with Public Health.
If the wild animal can be safely contained, keep it in place; it may need to be tested for rabies. Contact your local Animal Control agency for assistance.
Use the Online Bite Reporting Portal or call (213) 288-7060. VPH will advise on quarantine requirements based on your pet's vaccination status.
If safe to do so, cover the bat with a box or bucket to keep it in place until help arrives. If inside, exit the room and close doors and windows.
Never handle a bat with bare hands. If it is inside and alive, do not release it.
Animal Control will collect the bat and arrange for rabies testing. Find your local Animal Control agency.
Any time you find a bat, even without a visible bite, report to public health. Use the Online Bite Reporting Portal or call (213) 288-7060.
Report a Bite
Reporting a bite helps Public Health evaluate rabies risk and arrange animal quarantine or testing. Reporting does not mean an animal will be taken away or deemed dangerous. Most biting pets are quarantined and observed at home. The animal's current location is one of the most important pieces of information you can provide.
- All mammal bites to people, except bites from small rodents (rats, mice, gophers, squirrels) and rabbits
- All wild mammal bites to pets (for example, a raccoon biting a dog)
- All bat encounters, even without a visible bite. Bat encounters include any situation where direct physical contact with a bat has occurred or cannot be completely ruled out. Bat bites are tiny and may not be felt or seen.
- Online: Animal Bite Reporting Portal
- Email: vet@ph.lacounty.gov
- Phone: (213) 288-7060 (weekdays 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
- Veterinarians or animal control staff should refer to instructions for veterinarians and animal control
If you are reporting a bite from a wild animal still at large, also contact your local Animal Control agency. Do not approach or handle the animal.
- Long Beach Animal Care Services: (562) 570-7387
- Pasadena Humane Society: (626) 792-7151
- Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (Vernon): (562) 803-3301
Public Health will follow up to assess rabies risk. If the biting animal can be located:
- Dogs and cats: quarantined and observed for a minimum of 10 days. Most are quarantined at home.
- Livestock: quarantined for 30 days.
- High-risk wildlife (bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes): if captured, tested for rabies, not quarantined.
- Other wildlife: evaluated case by case.
Rabies testing by Public Health is free. If the animal tests negative, treatment may not be needed.
FAQ: My Pet Is Under QuarantineAbout Rabies
What Is Rabies?
Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system of people and animals. Any mammal can get rabies, including bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, cats, and dogs. In Los Angeles County, bats are the primary animals known to routinely carry rabies. Other mammals can be infected by a bat bite, but rabies in local dogs, cats, and wildlife other than bats is rare.
Rabies is almost always transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. There is no cure once symptoms appear, which is why prompt action after any potential exposure is so important. See the Protecting Yourself and Protecting Your Pet tabs for guidance on symptoms, prevention, and what to do after a bite or exposure.
Protecting Yourself
- Never touch a bat with bare hands. If you find a bat (dead, sick, or indoors) do not handle it. Call your local Animal Control agency.
- Avoid contact with wild animals. Raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, and opossums can all be infected with rabies through a bat bite. Never feed, approach, or attempt to handle wildlife.
- If bitten or scratched: wash the wound immediately with soap and water, then seek medical care and report the bite. See I Was Bitten above.
- Be especially cautious at night and outdoors. Bats are most active at dusk and dawn. Campers and hikers should be aware of bat activity, particularly in summer months.
- If a bat was in a room with a sleeping person, someone incapacitated, or a child, treat it as a potential exposure even if no bite is visible. Bat bites can be too small to see or feel. Do not release the bat. Report the exposure immediately.
Early symptoms may be vague, such as fever, weakness, or headache. As the disease progresses, you may:
- Tingling or pain at the bite site
- Anxiety, agitation, confusion
- Difficulty swallowing, excess saliva
- Hallucinations
- Coma and death
If you are exposed to a potentially rabid animal, a treatment called Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is available and is nearly 100% effective when started before symptoms develop. PEP is a series of vaccine doses and is not given in the stomach. There is no cure once symptoms appear, so do not wait for symptoms to develop before seeking care.
Contact your doctor, urgent care, or emergency room right away if you think you may have been exposed. For more detail on PEP, see Rabies: For Human Clinicians (ACDC).
Protecting Your Pet
Keep Vaccinations Current
The best way to protect your pet is keeping their rabies vaccination up to date:
- Rabid bats have been found inside homes. Indoor cats and older pets are not safe by default.
- A vaccinated pet exposed to wildlife faces only a 30-day quarantine. An unvaccinated pet faces 6 months.
- Vaccination is required by law for dogs in California. Many LA County cities also require it for cats.
Signs of Rabies in Animals
Early signs may be subtle, like changes in behavior or appetite. As the disease progresses:
- Unusual aggression or unusual tameness
- Difficulty walking, circling, paralysis
- Foaming at the mouth
- Nocturnal animals (e.g., bats) active in daylight
- Wild animals approaching people without fear
If Your Pet Is Bitten by Wildlife
- Report the incident to Public Health. See Report a Bite above.
- If the wild animal can be safely captured or is already dead, Animal Control can arrange for rabies testing. A negative result may eliminate the need for quarantine.
- Do not let your pet roam freely or interact with other animals until you have contacted Public Health.
If Your Pet Is Showing Signs of Rabies
- Do not handle the animal without protection.
- Isolate the pet from other animals and people immediately.
- Contact your veterinarian and VPH at (213) 288-7060.
- There is no cure for rabies in animals once symptoms appear.
If Your Pet Is Under Quarantine
Most bite quarantines for dogs and cats take place in the animal's own home. Public Health will provide instructions. For common questions about what to expect:
FAQ: My Pet Is Under QuarantineLA County Resources
Animal Bite Reporting Portal
What to Do After an Animal Bite
Bat in the Home: Step-by-Step Guide
Animal Control Agency Directory
FAQ: My Pet Is Under Quarantine
Animal Bites & Rabies Risk: LA County
What to Do If You Find a Bat
State & National Resources
News & Updates
- First Rabid Raccoon Case in LA County Since 1973 Under Investigation (10-5-26)
- On World Rabies Day, Public Health Warns of Record Rabid Bat Detections in Los Angeles County (9-28-26)
- Public Health Reports Second-Highest Number of Rabid Bats Ever Recorded in LA County (11-5-25)
- Rabid Bats More Common During Summer and Fall (7-25-23)