Bats and Rabies.
Bats are the animal that most commonly
carry rabies in our county. Most bats do not have
rabies, and try to avoid contact with people and
pets. Bats are good for the environment because they eat
insects and pollinate plants. Bats are also protected by
law.
Bats seen flying in daylight, or found
on the ground, are more likely to have rabies. Never
touch a bat or other wild animal. If you pick up a bat
with your bare hands, you may be bitten and exposed to rabies.
Bats that bite a person or pet should be tested
for rabies. The bite mark from a bat can be very small
and hard to see. Bats that are found indoors near a
sleeping person, young child, adult that cannot speak,
or pet should also be tested for rabies. In
these cases, try to gently trap the bat without touching
it (such as covering it with a bucket), and call your
local animal control agency. To see a list of local
animal control agencies,
click here. You
should also talk to your doctor and/or veterinarian in
these situations.
Links about rabies
Centers for Disease
Control - Rabies pagesLos Angeles County Department of Public Health
Webpages
Local Rabies
Overview
Rabies
Control Manual
Human rabies
Read about rabid bats found in 2009! Click
here.
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