Los Angeles County Confirms First Rabid Raccoon in Over 50 Years
Health officials are investigating how a raccoon in a backyard became infected with rabies for the first time since 1973.
Los Angeles County health officials have confirmed that a raccoon tested positive for rabies after it was found in someone's backyard. This is the first time in more than 50 years that a raccoon in the county has had the disease. Officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are now investigating how the animal got infected. They are working quickly to make sure that people and pets nearby are protected.
The sick raccoon appeared unwell but did not act aggressively toward people. One dog at the home was exposed to the raccoon, but it had already received its rabies vaccine and has been quarantined, meaning kept away from other animals. The dog is reported to be doing well. Four people who may have been exposed are receiving medical follow-up to help prevent them from getting sick.
Health officials are trying to figure out which type of rabies the raccoon was carrying. This is important because it tells scientists where the infection may have come from. Tests to find the specific strain can take several weeks to complete. For now, officials believe the raccoon most likely caught rabies from a bat, since rabid bats have been found in record numbers in Los Angeles County in 2026.
To understand why this is such big news, the last rabid raccoon in Los Angeles County was found in 1973 — over 50 years ago. The most recent non-bat animal with confirmed rabies before this case was a skunk infected in 2014. Officials said last week that 2026 has already seen a record number of rabid bat detections, and bat season still has several months to go. All of this points to a growing concern about rabies spreading to more animals in the region.
Rabies is a very serious disease with no cure once symptoms begin. In animals, signs include vomiting, trouble breathing, strange behavior, aggression, and paralysis. In people, early symptoms include fever, weakness, and headaches, which can later turn into confusion, hallucinations, trouble swallowing, coma, and death. The disease is 100% fatal in animals once symptoms appear, which is why prevention is so important.
The best way to prevent rabies is to vaccinate pets and avoid contact with wild animals. Health officials urged everyone to never touch, handle, or feed wild animals, and to always keep a safe distance. Rabies spreads most commonly through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, or when its saliva touches an open wound or someone's eyes, nose, or mouth. Keeping pets vaccinated and staying away from wild animals are the two most important steps people can take to stay safe.
"Based on current knowledge of rabies occurrence in Los Angeles County, it is likely this raccoon was infected with rabies from a bat."
Comprehension quiz preview
1. When was the last time a rabid raccoon was confirmed in Los Angeles County before this case?
2. What did health officials say was the most likely source of the raccoon's rabies infection?
3. How many people were possibly exposed to the rabid raccoon?