San Joaquin County animal-control and public-health officials are sounding the alarm after seeing an uptick in bats testing positive for rabies across the county. Today, they urged residents not to handle bats, to make sure pets are current on rabies vaccinations, and to report any bat encounters right away. The recent cluster of rabid bats has prompted extra outreach in neighborhoods where the animals have turned up.
Local reports and response
County crews have been collecting more bats for testing than they normally see at this time of year, and several of those samples have come back positive for rabies, according to CBS Sacramento. The outlet reports that the findings have pushed county staff to ramp up public messaging about steering clear of wildlife and promptly reporting any animal that seems sick, injured, or is acting strangely.
How to report a bat
San Joaquin County Animal Services, which runs the county's rabies-control program, asks residents who find a bat to call (209) 953-6070 for service in unincorporated areas or (209) 953-6073 for other animal inquiries, and to avoid handling bats with bare hands, according to San Joaquin County Animal Services. If it can be done safely, officials suggest placing a can or box over the bat, keeping people and pets away, and waiting for trained staff to arrive.
Statewide context
State monitoring shows that bats are the most commonly identified rabid animals in California and are the leading source of the small number of human rabies cases reported in recent years, the California Department of Public Health's rabies report notes. California Department of Public Health data for 2024 emphasize that human infections remain rare, but any potential exposure needs to be treated as a serious medical issue.
When to seek care
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges people to seek medical evaluation immediately if a bat is found in a room where someone was sleeping, or any time an exposure cannot be ruled out, because timely post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, can prevent rabies, according to the CDC. Health officials continue to remind clinicians and residents that bat bites can be small and painless, so the guidance is intentionally conservative.
Protecting pets and homes
County public-health staff also stress that pet owners should keep rabies vaccinations up to date and contact a veterinarian right away if an animal may have had any contact with a bat. For local guidance and additional resources, residents can check information from San Joaquin County Public Health Services.
