Yosemite visitors upset after delayed disclosure of rabies-positive bat
Park officials announced weeks later that a dead bat found near Curry Village in May tested positive for rabies, prompting anger among visitors.
In May, a bat found dead near the Curry Village showerhouse in Yosemite National Park tested positive for rabies, but the park waited until this Thursday to inform the public through a social-media update. While officials say no human interaction with the bat is known, they advise anyone who might have had direct contact on or near May 18 to contact the California Department of Public Health and a healthcare provider promptly.
The delay sparked frustration among visitors, who fear that anyone potentially exposed may have missed the narrow window for effective treatment. Rabies can become fatal within days to weeks without immediate care, and once symptoms appear, no effective cure exists. The park notes that a small fraction of its 17 bat species test positive each year and that routine testing helps monitor wildlife disease. The last rabies-positive bat in Yosemite was recorded in July 2025.
Why it matters
Delayed rabies alerts can put visitors at risk and highlight the need for timely public health communication.
In this story
