California Health and Safety Code Laws and Regulations Related to Rabies

California Compendium of Rabies Control and Prevention

California Local Health Department Contact Information

Nicole Carion
Statewide Wildlife Rehabilitation Coordinator
Associate Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife Investigations Lab, 1701 Nimbus Rd., Rancho Cordova, CA 95746

Mailing address: CA Dept. of Fish and Game,
601 Locust St., Redding, CA 96001

Please keep yourself and your volunteers updated on laws concerning rabies in the state of California. Copies of the state laws concerning rabies are attached to this document for your convenience.

Specifically, all rehabilitators should know the definition of rabies “exposure”. Besides someone or something knowingly being bitten or coming in contact with saliva from a bat in an open wound, scratch or mucus membrane, exposure includes situations where a bat is found in a room where people or animals could have been unknowingly exposed, for example, while sleeping. Part two Section A -2. of the California Compendium of Rabies Control and Prevention (See attached) state:

In instances in which a bat is found indoors and there is no history of bat-human contact, the likely effectiveness of rabies PEP must be balanced against the low risk such exposures appear to present. In this setting, rabies PEP can be considered for persons who were in the same room as the bat and who might be unaware that a bite or direct contact had occurred (e.g., a sleeping person awakens to find a bat in the room or an adult witnesses a bat in the room with a previously unattended child, mentally disabled person, or intoxicated person) and rabies cannot be ruled out by testing the bat. Rabies PEP would not be warranted for other household members.

Please always ask a person who brings a bat into your facility if the bat was found in a room where it may have coexisted with unknowing people or other animals. Because the small size of a bats’ teeth, a bite can occur without knowledge. In this situation, the bat exposure must be reported or immediately taken to your county Public Health Department. No exceptions. If the public calls about an exposure situation have the person call the county health department or animal control for response. It is always better if there are less people exposed in these types of situations.

Also, make sure to ask the appropriate questions when responding or taking in any bat for rehabilitation. It is absolutely imperative to find out the history of the bat and the location where the bat was found. The most important question to ask is “who has been exposed to the animal”. If there is any indication that a downed bat has been handled by the public notify your public health department immediately.

Bats are a very important part of our ecosystem but unfortunately they are known carriers of rabies and have specific protocols when found “down” and humans have been exposed. Rabies is fatal and human health and safety comes first. It is the law.

If you do not already have your counties' public health phone numbers, I have attached a list of county health departments (see attached). Time is of essence in emergency situations.

Telephone: office(530) 357-3986 fax(530)-357-3478