A rabid bat was discovered in the Soquel area of Santa Cruz County this week, according to authorities. 

The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency and the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter have confirmed that a bat tested positive for rabies, the county said Tuesday.

A dog made contact with the bat but was fully vaccinated against rabies.

“This serves as an important reminder to the community about the dangers of rabies and the steps everyone should take to protect themselves, their families and their pets,” said the county in a release. 

Rabies is a fatal disease that can be transmitted to humans from animals. 

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.