Another bat in Inyo tests positive for rabies
Health officials advise public to be cautious around wildlife
Inyo County Health and Human Services, Public Health, would like to remind visitors and residents not to touch, handle, or feed wildlife.
Five bats in Inyo
County have been secured and tested positive for rabies since April 2023.
On Nov. 2, Inyo County Animal Control received a call about a bat behaving erratically in Bishop. The caller had the bat isolated, and no human contact was made with the bat.
The bat was sent to the California Department of Public Health for testing by Inyo County Animal Control on Nov. 7 and a positive result was received on Nov. 9.
On Nov. 9, 2023, Inyo County Environmental
INDEX QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The tigers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction.”
Health received a call about a potential bat exposure in Death Valley National Park. The report stated that an unidentified number of people were sleeping in either a tent or a camper and woke to find a deceased bat just outside the tent opening.
The bat was sent to the California Department of Public Health for testing by Inyo County Animal Control on Nov. 13 and a positive result was received on Nov. 16
Anyone who may have had contact with this bat should contact Inyo County Health Department for clinical guidance at (760) 873-7868.
Rabies is usually fatal unless treated before symptoms begin. Humans can get rabies through contact with an infected animal’s saliva, typically through a bite or scratch. Any mammal can carry rabies.
People should be especially concerned when an animal is behaving aggressively or does not show a normal fear of humans. Bats typically hibernate or migrate from colder climates in the winter, but in warmer climates they may be active throughout the winter months.
Health officials advise the public to follow the guidance below to stay safe around wildlife.
How to stay safe around wildlife
•Never approach, touch, feed, or pick up a wild animal. Enjoy wildlife
chance late Wednesday afternoon. This potential system would be weak with limited accumulations and fairly high snow levels in the 8,000foot range. Temps would drop into the low 40s and mid to upper 30s. Winds don’t look strong either, which is a good indicator this is a weak system with limited snowfall.”
Looking ahead, he said, “As the models have evolved over the last few days it’s clear that a major stormy period is basically off the table for this week... (but) another storm is showing up on the Euro and GFS (American model) for later Friday into Saturday afternoon. Once again, this would be another light snowfall producer, with limited cold air and higher snow levels in the 8,000-foot range . ... The main point is that this coming week, while it might be more active doesn’t bring the promise of moderate to heavy snowfall like the models were showing several days back.”
The Reno office of the National Weather Service was more bullish about Mammoth Mountain’s chances for measurable snow, stating the Sierra near Mammoth had a 50% or higher chance of getting about a foot of snow between now and the end of the week.
Further out, hopes for a wet winter are still high, however, with a very strong El Niño pattern building, although local forecaster Howard Sheckter said earlier this fall that he believes the winter will coming in a bit late, with the bulk of the precipitation holding off until after Christmas and then possible ramping up again to a big winter.