Yosemite National Park Discloses Rabies-Positive Bat Found in May
Officials announced that a dead bat discovered near Curry Village in May tested positive for rabies and urged anyone with possible exposure to seek medical advice.
Yosemite National Park announced on Thursday that a bat found near Curry Village’s showerhouse in May tested positive for rabies. The park said there is no evidence of human contact with the animal, but it is urging anyone who may have had direct contact with the bat around May 18 to contact the California Department of Health and a healthcare provider promptly.
"As part of routine park operations, deceased bats with no known human contact are collected and later tested to monitor wildlife diseases that circulate naturally within bat populations," park officials said.
The agency noted that rabies can be transmitted through bites or scratches and that symptoms can appear within days to weeks. Without immediate treatment, the disease is almost always fatal, according to health authorities.
The park highlighted that Yosemite is home to 17 bat species and that only a very small percentage of tested bats test positive for rabies each year. The last rabies-positive bat in the park was reported in July 2025.