Home » Santa Clarita News » Public Safety » Ninth Rabid Bat Of The Season Turns Up In Newhall, Third In SCV

Ninth Rabid Bat Of The Season Turns Up In Newhall, Third In SCV

A rabid bat was found in Newhall in June, according to a recent report from the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.

The ninth rabid bat of the season has been found in Los Angeles County, Public Health officials reported Wednesday.


Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.


Rabid bats reported between Jan. 1 and June 10The bat was found in Newhall, staggering around a residential patio. The resident covered the bat with a pool net and kept their dog away from it until Animal Control arrived.

No bites or injuries were reported.

It was the first rabid bat reported in June and the third found in the Santa Clarita Valley since the season started in February.

A dead bat was found in an Agua Dulce swimming pool in February and a live bat was found on the ground in Newhall in April.

Related Article: Rabid Bat Reported In Newhall, Third In County Since February

Rabid bats have also been found in Palmdale, Los Angeles, Topanga and Monrovia this year.

Last year’s rabid bat season started in March and saw nearly half of the county’s identified rabid bats–14 of 33–turning up in the Santa Clarita Valley, even though the SCV has less than three percent of the county’s human population.

Bats are the most common carriers of rabies, but far fewer than one percent of bats actually have rabies.

If a bat is flying during the daytime, showing interest in a pet’s food dish, flopping around on the ground or dead in the water, residents shouldn’t touch it. Instead, they should call Animal Control.

There’s been only one case of a bat biting a human in L.A. County in recent years. It happened two years ago in Acton when a sick bat fell out of a tree and landed on someone’s shoulder.

A bat bite feels like a tiny pin-prick, and often it’s difficult to tell if and when it happens. Anyone who believes they might have been bitten by a bat should seek medical attention right away. Bats that are found indoors near a sleeping person, young child, adult that cannot speak or pet should also be tested for rabies.

Pets’ shots should be kept current. If Animal Control thinks a pet has been bitten they’ll be subject to 30 days’ home quarantine if they’ve had all their shots. Otherwise they’ll be taken to a shelter for six months for observation.

To stay updated on the latest reports of rabid bats, visit the Department of Veterinary Public Health online.

Leon Worden of SCV News contributed to this report.


Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.


 

[node:title]KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita News - Santa Clarita Radio


Article: [node:title]
Source: Santa Clarita News
Author: [node:author]


Ninth Rabid Bat Of The Season Turns Up In Newhall, Third In SCV

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220

As Santa Clarita’s only local radio station, KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, along with your favorite adult contemporary hits by artists such as Rob Thomas, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Maroon 5. We are vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community. Our broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. We stream our talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience.