More bats have tested positive for rabies this year in Ventura County than in at least 12 years in an unexplained, some contend, potentially misleading rise.
Ventura County Animal Services officials said 21 bats have tested positive so far in 2025 for the deadly disease, compared to six in 2024 and four in 2023. There have been no human cases in California since 2024.
California Public Health online records date back to 2013. Only once in that time span did the tally of bats with rabies total even half of this year’s count. In that year, 2018, 11 rabid bats were reported…