Yosemite delays rabies warning after bat tests positive, sparking public-safety questions
A dead bat found near Curry Village in May tested positive for rabies at Yosemite, but park officials waited more than three months to alert visitors. No known human contact has been reported; authorities urge anyone who touched a bat in the Curry Village area around May 18 to seek medical advice. The delay has drawn criticism and questions about public-health messaging, as other parks issued alerts within days or weeks. Rabies is fatal if untreated but preventable with prompt care; testing follows routine wildlife-disease surveillance, and public alerts depend on exposure risk.