Pasadena health officials are again warning residents to avoid contact with bats after a second bat tested positive for rabies in the city this year.
The bat was found around 1:30 p.m. Thursday near the baseball field at Brenner Park, according to a news release issued Monday by the city of Pasadena.
Officials said there have been no reported human cases of rabies connected to the discovery and emphasized that the overall risk to the public remains low.
However, health officials are urging residents to take the warning seriously because rabies is a potentially fatal disease that requires prompt medical attention after an exposure.
WHAT HAPPENED
The rabies-positive bat was discovered near the baseball field at Brenner Park on Aug. 27, according to Pasadena officials.
The discovery prompted another public health warning reminding residents not to touch bats, particularly bats that appear sick, injured, dead or unusually active during the daytime.
“Bats can carry rabies and should never be handled,” Pasadena Public Health Director Manuel Carmona said.
Carmona also urged residents to report bats that appear to be sick or injured rather than attempting to remove them themselves.
“Community members should avoid contact with and immediately report injured, ill, or dead bats,” Carmona said.
The warning comes several months after another rabies-positive bat was found elsewhere in Pasadena.
WHY IT MATTERS
Rabies is a serious viral disease that can affect humans and animals after exposure to infected saliva, most commonly through a bite.
Although officials said the risk to the general public remains low, even a seemingly minor interaction with an infected bat can create a serious health concern.
One reason health officials emphasize avoiding bats is that bat bites can sometimes be difficult to see.
A person may not always realize they were bitten or scratched, particularly if they were asleep, a child was involved, or a pet came into contact with the animal.
That is why officials are asking residents not to handle bats themselves and to report potential exposure as soon as possible.
“Any contact by humans or pets with a rabid bat is a very serious health concern,” Health Officer Dr. Parveen Kaur said.
Kaur stressed that rabies is life-threatening but can be prevented when appropriate medical treatment is received quickly after exposure.
“Rabies is a life-threatening disease that requires timely preventive medical treatment,” Kaur said.
What Residents Should Do
Pasadena Public Health officials recommend that residents take several basic precautions around bats.
People should never handle a bat with their bare hands, even if the animal appears dead or unable to fly.
Residents who find an injured, sick or dead bat should contact the appropriate animal control or public health authorities instead of attempting to move it.
For bats found in Pasadena, officials are asking residents to contact Pasadena Humane at 626-792-7151.
The recommendation applies especially to bats found on the ground.
A bat that appears dead or is behaving unusually should be left alone until trained personnel can determine how to safely handle the situation.
What About Pets?
Health officials are also reminding pet owners to take precautions.
Dogs and cats that encounter bats can potentially be exposed to rabies, particularly if the bat is bitten, scratched or mouthed by the animal.
If a pet has interacted with a bat, officials recommend contacting an emergency veterinarian for guidance.
Pet owners should avoid touching the bat or attempting to separate animals from the bat without appropriate precautions.
Keeping pets away from wild animals is one of the simplest ways to reduce the chance of accidental exposure.
Pasadena Has Seen Previous Rabies-Positive Bats
The latest discovery is the second rabies-infected bat found in Pasadena this year.
In May, the first rabies-positive bat of 2026 was discovered near the intersection of South Grand Avenue and Del Rosa Drive.
Another rabies-infected bat was found in Pasadena last August near East Green Street and South Hudson Avenue, approximately 1.5 miles from the latest discovery.
That 2025 discovery was significant because it was the first bat in Pasadena to test positive for rabies since 2019.
The repeated discoveries have prompted health officials to continue reminding residents that bats are part of the local wildlife population and should be observed from a safe distance.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
The discoveries raise an understandable question for Pasadena residents: Does finding multiple rabid bats mean the city is facing a growing public health threat?
Officials say the overall risk to the public remains low.
Finding a rabies-positive bat does not mean that residents are likely to encounter an infected animal, nor does it mean that human rabies infections are occurring in the community.
A skeptical view is also important. While two positive bats in one year may sound alarming, the presence of rabies in wildlife is not itself evidence of a widespread outbreak among humans. Rabies can naturally circulate among wild animal populations, and the public health risk depends heavily on whether people or pets have had direct contact with an infected animal. Pasadena officials have reported no human rabies cases connected to the discovery.
The most important concern is therefore exposure rather than simply the number of infected bats found.
What Happens After a Possible Exposure?
Anyone who believes they may have been bitten or scratched by a bat should seek medical advice promptly.
Officials say animal bites should be discussed with a medical provider as soon as possible.
Medical professionals can determine whether preventive treatment is necessary based on the circumstances of the exposure.
If a pet is involved, owners should contact an emergency veterinarian for guidance.
Residents should also avoid trying to capture or kill bats themselves, since doing so can create another opportunity for direct contact.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- How the bat found at Brenner Park became infected.
- Whether the bat had direct contact with any people or pets before it was discovered.
- Whether additional rabies-positive bats will be found elsewhere in Pasadena.
- Whether anyone will require preventive treatment following the discovery.
- Whether the recent findings represent any meaningful change in rabies activity among Pasadena's bat population.
For now, Pasadena health officials are emphasizing prevention rather than alarm.
Residents can continue visiting parks and spending time outdoors, but should avoid touching bats and report injured, ill or dead animals to the appropriate authorities.
The city says the overall public risk remains low, but anyone who has had direct contact with a potentially rabid bat should treat the situation as a serious health concern.