Baby season has barely begun, and we’ve already helped 107 bats locally and around the world! If you’d like to donate to help us save orphaned and injured bats, click here. Please keep reading to see some of our notable rescues, as well as tips on keeping mother and baby bats safe this summer. 💚
WILBIE
First up is little Wilbie, a Mexican free-tailed bat, who was found grounded during the day near an office door in downtown Mineral Wells, TX. After calling Bat World and receiving containment instructions, the concerned office staff rushed out to secure the bat, and good thing that they did! The bat had crawled into the street and was struggling on her back in the middle of the road, with cars rushing by. The staff had named the bat “Wilbur”, however, “he” turned out to be a very pregnant female, so she is now Wilbie. She is likely a first time bat mom, which made things harder for her. To make matters worse, she was having back issues and could not fly, likely from her baby putting pressure on her spine. The very next day, she delivered her pup. Unfortunately, the pup was stillborn. But, Little Wilbie is slowly recuperating and is now starting to move her legs. She is being hand-fed twice daily and receiving pain medication. Because she is unable to keep herself clean by grooming with her tiny feet, we are doing that for her. When she makes a full recovery she will be released to rejoin her colony. I
TRASH CAN BATS
Why do so many people think bats – or any other animal – deserves no more kindness than to be discarded – alive – in a trash can? Concerned citizens who find bats and want to help them often call their local authorities or trusted veterinarians for help. The person that found the healthy bat pup (pictured below) was told by a veterinarian to “put it in a bag and throw it in the trash.” Thankfully, she did not listen and, instead, called us. We directed her on how to properly contain the baby and then put her in contact with her nearest trained bat rescuer. Sadly, there still are people who don’t understand the importance of bats and still believe the myths and misconceptions about bats. Later that same day, a woman found a bat on her porch and was at first not willing to help transport the bat to her closest rescuer, only 20 miles away, so she asked if she should just throw it in the trash instead! However, after working with her and explaining the importance of bats to both the environment and to humans, she agreed to transport the bat to the rescuer. Then, that night, a couple spotted a lost bat flying through their home, trying to find his way out. In a panic, they swatted him down with a broom and then threw him in the trash. After seeing the helpless little bat in their trash, fearfully looking up at them, they called us. We gave them contact information for a rescuer, who they immediately called so that the bat could be examined for injuries and, hopefully, quickly released.
KEEPING BATS SAFE THIS SUMMER
Summertime is a busy time for everyone, including bats! Pregnant foliage bats, like the red bat mom below, often are the prey of blue jays and crows and will attempt to gather their pups and fly away. When the pups are larger, these moms often become grounded by the weight. Mother bats cover their pups with their wings and fight for all of their lives, sacrificing themselves in the process. When grounded, this little bat family may be found by children or pets, or worse, run over by lawn mowers. Please check your yard for downed bats before mowing! Ceiling fans on porches can break tiny arms. Turning off ceiling fans at night will prevent this from happening. Other ways to help bats during the summer include FrogLogs for your pool and avoiding trimming palm fronds, where small bats families are being raised, and creating pup catchers for babies who sometimes fall from bat houses. Click to learn more about keeping bats safe in summer.
Rosie, the short-tailed fruit bat we introduced to you back in April, is healthy, happy, and growing rapidly! She now is eating a mash of banana and formula. You’ll recall that Rosie was born to a female that arrived in our largest fruit bat rescue to date and was found abandoned in the enclosure. Staff have been carefully caring for Rosie – feeding and cleaning her and providing enrichment. We all are excited for the day that Rosie will be able to rejoin her colony! Click on the video below to see Rosie enjoying her banana and formula mash ♥