Los Angeles County health authorities announced Friday that a second raccoon testing positive for rabies was discovered in the Westlake Village area. The animal was found in a backyard near the location of the first rabid raccoon identified earlier this month, marking the first confirmed raccoon cases in the county since 1973.
Details of the second discovery
The newly identified raccoon appeared sick and aggressive when officials located it. Two workers at a nearby site may have been exposed to the animal and are currently receiving follow‑up medical care, according to the Department of Public Health.
County health officer Dr. Muntu Davis emphasized the importance of avoiding any contact with wild animals, regardless of how healthy they seem. “Never touch, handle, or feed any wild animals,” Davis said in a statement. “Keep a safe distance, report sick or injured wildlife to animal control, and ensure your pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations.”
Public health response and testing
The first raccoon, discovered in early October in a Westlake Village backyard, tested positive for a rabies variant typically associated with bats. Testing of the second animal is ongoing to determine whether it carries the same bat‑derived strain or a different variant.
Historical records show that the last confirmed rabid raccoon in Los Angeles County was detected in 1973, when the skunk variant of the disease was still present. That particular strain has not been identified in the county since 1979. The most recent non‑bat animal case involved a skunk infected with the bat variant of rabies in Long Beach in 2014.
Rabies context in the region
Rabies remains a global health threat, causing tens of thousands of human deaths each year, most of which are linked to dog bites in regions where the canine strain persists. In Los Angeles County, human exposures have historically been tied to bat encounters. County officials note a steady increase in rabid bat detections over the past decade, with a record 77 rabid bats confirmed this year—a figure that surpasses previous annual totals.
Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal in both humans and animals. However, timely administration of post‑exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after a potential bite is highly effective at preventing the disease. In animals, the virus is 100 % fatal once symptoms develop, but vaccination can fully prevent infection.
Health officials recommend that pet owners vaccinate indoor‑only cats, older pets, and any animals that spend time outdoors. Keeping all pets current on their rabies shots protects both the animals and the families that care for them.
People who are bitten by a wild mammal such as a raccoon, skunk, opossum, or coyote should seek immediate medical attention and report the incident to public health authorities. Pet owners should also bring bitten animals to a veterinarian promptly and notify local animal control.
Additional preventive measures include not leaving pet food outdoors, securing trash in containers with tight‑fitting lids, and sealing crawl spaces or openings that could allow wildlife to enter homes or yards. Residents who encounter sick or unusually behaving wildlife are urged to avoid direct contact and contact animal control for safe removal.
Steve Lopez is a Senior Editorial Columnist and Health & Public Policy reporter for News Raise. Steve focuses on healthcare advancements, medical technologies, and public health policies.
