Santa Monica pet owners should check that rabies vaccinations are current after LA County confirmed record numbers of rabid bats and the first rabid raccoons in more than 50 years.

At least 368 animals tested positive for rabies statewide in 2026, the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) said, as KTLA first reported on Nov. 7. That is the highest count in 28 years. Most were bats and skunks in Southern California.

Within LA County, a record 77 rabid bats have been confirmed so far in 2026, according to the county Department of Public Health. The previous annual record was 69, set in 2025, Fox Weather reported. The county has seen a steady upward trend in rabid bat detections for more than a decade.

Bats are the primary animals known to carry rabies in LA County, the department's rabies information page states. Bat bites can be too small to see or feel. If a bat is found where someone was sleeping or a child was present, residents should assume possible exposure even if no bite is visible.

Two rabid raccoons were also found in the Westlake Village area of LA County this fall. They were the first raccoons to test positive for rabies in the county since 1973, according to the department. The first raccoon, found Sept. 17, appeared sick but not aggressive, the department said. Four people at a nearby worksite may have been exposed and are receiving post-exposure treatment. One vaccinated dog that may have been exposed was quarantined and is doing well.

A second rabid raccoon turned up Oct. 18 in a backyard near the same location. That raccoon appeared sick and aggressive. Two workers who may have been exposed are also receiving treatment.

Testing confirmed the first raccoon carried a bat variant of rabies. Strain results for the second were still pending as of the department's Oct. 23 announcement.

The risk to humans remains low.

The CVMA said the last person to die from rabies in California was in 2024. Dr. Muntu Davis, the LA County health officer, said in the department's Oct. 23 statement that "the detection of rabies in another raccoon is an important reminder to never touch, handle, or feed any wild animals, even when they appear healthy." He urged residents to keep their distance from wildlife and ensure pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations.

How to stay safe

Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but post-exposure treatment is nearly 100 percent effective when started promptly, according to the county health department. The department advises residents to:

  • Never touch a bat or wild animal with bare hands.
  • Keep pets vaccinated. Dog rabies vaccination is required by California law. A vaccinated pet exposed to wildlife faces a 30-day quarantine; an unvaccinated pet faces six months.
  • Do not leave pet food outdoors.
  • Wash any bite or scratch immediately with soap and water and seek medical care.
  • If a bat is found indoors, cover it with a box or container and call animal control. Do not release it.

Residents can reach the LA County Veterinary Public Health Program at (213) 288-7060 or [email protected].