FRESNO, Calif. — A bat found at Yosemite National Park tested positive for a viral disease that’s fatal for people and animals, park officials confirmed.

The big brown bat, which was found dead outside the Curry Village Showerhouse in May, tested positive for rabies, Yosemite National Park said in a news release on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

The discovery comes after a three-month wait for test results.

“No known human contact with the bat has been reported,” Yosemite National Park said in the release.

Officials asked anyone who had direct contact with a bat in the Curry Village area on or around May 18 to contact the California Department of Health and reach out to a healthcare provider promptly to determine if medical treatment is needed.

Tucked into the eastern corner of Yosemite Valley, Curry Village features restaurants, shops and lodging options ranging from canvas tent cabins to standard hotel rooms.

The spot has a “distinct close-to-nature campground vibe,” according to Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau.

What is rabies?

Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease that primarily affects the central nervous system, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The disease, which spreads through bites and scratches from infected animals, is most commonly carried by bats, foxes, raccoons and skunks.

People whose jobs involve frequent contact with animals, including agricultural workers, animal control workers and veterinarians, face higher risks of rabies exposure, the CDC said.

How common is rabies in California? In Yosemite?

In California, rabies is found in about 200 animals each year, most of them wild, according to the California Department of Public Health.

“Rabies infects very few humans in the United States and California,” the state Public Health Agency said.

A total of 17 people have been infected with rabies in California since 1980, most recently in 2024, state officials said.

Yosemite National Park is home to 17 species of bats that provide ecological and economic benefits.

Officials said a “very small percentage” of bats at Yosemite National Park test positive for rabies each year.

The last documented case of a rabies-positive bat at the park was in July 2025.

What are common signs of rabies?

In humans, early rabies symptoms are “very similar to those of the flu,” the Mayo Clinic said.

According to the CDC, initial signs of rabies can include weakness or discomfort, fever or headache, as well as discomfort, prickling or an itching sensation at the site of the bite.

Signs of “advanced rabies” include:

— Anxiety

— Confusion

— Agitation

— Hallucinations

— Being very thirsty but panicked by fluids

— Having lots of saliva

— Aggressive behavior like thrashing and biting

“Nearly all people infected with rabies will go into a coma and die one to two weeks after the start of symptoms,” according to the California Department of Public Health.

What should I do if I was exposed to rabies?

Each year, about 100,000 people in the United States are inoculated with the rabies vaccine after being exposed to the disease, the CDC said.

People exposed to rabies receive four to five shots of the vaccine, which is nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease from developing.

How can I prevent the spread of rabies?

According to the California Department of Public Health, you should be wary of animals exhibiting “strange or unnatural behavior.”

Wild animals with rabies may seem unusually tame or unafraid to approach people. Critters normally active at night may appear during the day.

You should also look out for pets that have trouble walking, eating or drinking, or show a personality change.

To protect yourself and your pets from animal bites, the state agency said, you should:

— Leave all wild animals alone. Do not approach, touch or feed any animals that you don’t know.

— Never adopt or bring wild animals into your home.

— Remove food that attracts wild animals by keeping garbage in closed, secure containers.

— Don’t leave pet food outside overnight.

— Seal holes or gaps in your home where bats and other animals could enter.

— Take extra care to avoid animals when traveling abroad.

— Always ask permission before you approach or try to pet another person’s dog that you don’t know.

— Keep pet cats indoors as much as possible.

— If you take your pets off your property, keep them on a leash and under your control at all time

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