San Diego Zoo Safari Park is alerting visitors to a potential rabies exposure after a wild bat found outside the Oasis on the Rocks restaurant tested positive for the virus. The deceased bat was recovered on July 11 and subsequently confirmed positive by the County Public Health Laboratory.
County health officials are requesting that anyone who may have had direct physical contact with the bat come forward for evaluation. The park stated that visitors who did not have physical contact with the animal are not at risk.
This incident marks the 19th bat to test positive for rabies in San Diego County this year, compared to 21 cases throughout all of 2025. Rabies is described as a nearly 100% fatal viral disease if not treated early. "Once symptoms start, there is no treatment for rabies," stated Dr. Ankita Kadakia, the county's deputy public health officer.
The bat was not part of the Safari Park's animal collection, and officials reported that no human contact has been confirmed to date. Wildlife experts emphasize that people should never handle bats, even though they play a beneficial role in the environment by consuming large numbers of insects. "Although it's rare for bats to carry rabies, it is important to exercise caution and not handle them with bare hands," said Dr. Alexis Wohl, wildlife veterinary manager at the San Diego Humane Society.
Dr. Brian Collins, a veterinarian at the Cornell Riney Canine Health Center, identified bats as primary carriers of rabies in the United States, accounting for most human rabies cases. He advised that if a bat is encountered in public, individuals should avoid touching it and instead keep people and pets away, then notify animal control or local law enforcement. If direct contact is suspected, affected areas should be washed thoroughly with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes.