Local Rescue
HOW TO USE THIS MAP:
Enter the name of your city or town or your postal or your zip code in the search bar and click “Find Locations”. The map will populate with rescuers who are located in your area. Along with the red balloons that appear, a list of names will also appear below the map. To access a rescuer’s contact information, either click on a name in the list or click on a red balloon.
NOTE: If no information appears in your search, it may be necessary to expand your search to 100+ miles. Also, note – it is still important to call the closest rescuer to you even though they might be some distance away because they may have a network of volunteers who are located closer but who are not yet included on this map.
PLEASE ALSO SEE TEMPORARY CARE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW THE MAP.
PROVIDING TEMPORARY CARE:
DO NOT handle a bat with bare hands, and do not attempt to rehabilitate the bat on your own. To do so could jeopardize your safely as well as the life of the bat. Please read the following information to provide temporary care for the bat until help is obtained.
Line a box with an old t-shirt so the bat has a surface to hang upside-down. Create some pleats in the shirt so the bat can hide if it wants to. (Make sure any tape that is used is secured well so the bat won’t get stuck.) Put a small amount of water in a small, shallow container like a vitamin or baby food jar lid (as seen in the video below).
DO NOT provide any type of food whatsoever – to do so will cause organ failure to critically dehydrated bats. Make sure a top is secured to the box as some bats can squeeze through a crack as thin as 1/2. If you must handle the bat please remember to wear thick gloves (even though rabies is rare in bats, if the bat bites you it will need to be euthanized and tested). Until help is located, keep the box in a room where the bat won’t get too warm or too cold and keep the bat away from children and pets.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
Bat and wildlife rehabiltators are extremely busy, sometimes caring for orphaned and injured wildlife up to 18 hours per day. If you find a bat please DO NOT rely on email to get help since time may be critical to saving the bat. ALWAYS CALL a bat or wildlife rehabilitator nearest to your location. Also, please be aware that there may not be a bat rehabilitator in your town or even your state, however, some rehabilitators are willing to drive a good distance to help a bat in need. Most wildlife rehabilitators volunteer their time and money to save the animals, and they rely on the help of the public. Please consider transporting the bat to them, meeting them half way, and/or even making a donation.
The people included on these lists are concerned wildlife rehabilitators, biologists, veterinarians, conservationists and educators who have volunteered to help people with bat questions, problems and rescue. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement of reputation, ability or permit status. If you have tried to get help from someone on this list and have not succeeded, please e-mail us at [email protected].
If you are a wildlife rehabilitator, educator or conservationist and would like to be added to this list please click the button below.