Yosemite: Rabies at Curry Village, Three Months Between the Positive Test and Its Announcement
The infected bat was found on May 18, 2026, but wasn't made public until September 2. No closures at Curry Village, and the safety guidance stays the same.
By Jocelyn Pion, · Updated
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Three Months Between the Discovery and the Announcement of the Positive Test
The bat that tested positive was found on May 18, 2026, but the announcement didn't come until September 2, a delay of about three months, according to the Fresno Bee and the New York Post. A previous rabies case dated back to July 2025, according to CBS News, the Fresno Bee, the New York Post, and the Sierra Sun Times. Yosemite is home to 17 bat species, and each year only a very small percentage of the bats tested come back positive, according to CBS News and the Sierra Sun Times. No closures or restrictions are in place at Curry Village. Never touch a bat, whether it's alive or dead.
Official source : Yosemite National Park Reports a Dead Bat Tests Positive for Rabies at Curry Village ; Yosemite visitors rage after rabies case revealed months after infected bat found dead at famed camp ; Dead bat tests positive for rabies at Yosemite National Park's Curry Village, park confirms ; Bat found at Yosemite campground tests positive for deadly disease. What to know
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Where it started
Yosemite: Rabies Warning at Curry Village After a Bat Tests Positive
A bat found dead at Curry Village tested positive for rabies. Here's what it means for your visit.
If you're staying near Curry Village during your trip to Yosemite, there's a safety notice worth your attention. Park officials put out word on September 2, 2026 about a confirmed rabies case in this busy corner of the valley.
It goes back to May 18, 2026. A big brown bat was found dead outside the Curry Village Showerhouse. Testing showed it was carrying rabies. So far, no contact between the animal and a visitor has been reported, which keeps the known risk low.
The official guidance is aimed at one specific situation. Anyone who may have touched a bat in the Curry Village area on or around that day in May should act right away. What to do is straightforward. Reach out to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and a healthcare provider promptly to find out whether treatment is needed.
For most travelers, the useful takeaway comes down to one simple rule. Never handle a bat, alive or dead, and don't try to move it yourself. These animals are a normal part of the park's wildlife and play a valuable ecological role, but direct contact carries a real health risk. If you find one on the ground, keep your distance and let a ranger know.
This alert doesn't change anything about the site staying open or your access to the valley. It's just a reminder of a safety habit that holds true all across the American West. To plan the rest of your trip with peace of mind, lean on our Yosemite park guide, which pulls together our practical, on-the-ground tips. Yosemite also fits into our road trip itinerary that runs through the park, if you're stringing together California's great sites.