More bats have tested positive for rabies in Los Angeles and Riverside counties this year when compared to the previous year, according to public health officials.

Rabid bats are found regularly in Southern California, and 60 infected bats were reported in L.A. County between March and October 2025, about a third of which were in Santa Clarita.

That’s up from 50 rabid bats found in all of last year, and 42 in 2023, according to the county Department of Public Health.

In Riverside County, 22 rabid bats were reported this year, authorities told LAist. That’s up from 15 confirmed the previous year.

Barbara Cole, Riverside University Health System — Public Health’s director of disease control, said the increase isn’t cause for panic, but people should take precautions to protec

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