I found a bat!

[JoanneF]

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She (I now know she is a she) was grounded on my patio at lunchtime. Grounded bats apparently can't take off. So I consulted the Bat Conservation Trust website that said to put on gloves and put the bat into a box with a rag to hide under and a milk bottle cap with water in it. I managed to slide a piece of card under her and got her into the box with minimal handling. Then, I rang the National Bat Helpline (obviously, on the bat phone) to find out what to do next. They put me in touch with someone local to me, who arranged to come and collect her.

He texted me later to say she is a female pipistrelle, she is a good weight and size but has signs of injury consistent with having been caught by a cat. He has managed to get her hanging (which I believe is a good thing) and is going to feed her recovery formula food but no antibiotics unless she shows sign of infection, as that would upset her gut bacteria. He thinks she isn't pregnant and doesn't show signs of feeding young, so it seems like there are no abandoned babies.

If she recovers, he will bring her back here to release her so she can find her way home.

I'm quite smitten!

 

[Mad Murphy]

Poor thing. Ive always loved seeing bats fly.

Sorry but if dog owners allowed their pets to cause as much damage and destruction as cats do there would be uproar..

 

[RGC]

She (I now know she is a she) was grounded on my patio at lunchtime. Grounded bats apparently can't take off. So I consulted the Bat Conservation Trust website that said to put on gloves and put the bat into a box with a rag to hide under and a milk bottle cap with water in it. I managed to slide a piece of card under her and got her into the box with minimal handling. Then, I rang the National Bat Helpline (obviously, on the bat phone) to find out what to do next. They put me in touch with someone local to me, who arranged to come and collect her.

He texted me later to say she is a female pipistrelle, she is a good weight and size but has signs of injury consistent with having been caught by a cat. He has managed to get her hanging (which I believe is a good thing) and is going to feed her recovery formula food but no antibiotics unless she shows sign of infection, as that would upset her gut bacteria. He thinks she isn't pregnant and doesn't show signs of feeding young, so it seems like there are no abandoned babies.

If she recovers, he will bring her back here to release her so she can find her way home.

I'm quite smitten!

Good for you, JoanneF. Please let us know the eventual outcome. I’ve only come across one instance of a cat bringing down a bat. Because of the fauna in the woodland behind us George (our rescued cat) has a bell on his collar.

 

[JoanneF]

I will update everyone when I know more.

 

[Flobo]

Heart warming, fingers crossed for a full recovery and that she will be heading homeward soon.

 

[arealhuman]

What a lovely post! I saw my first bat here a couple of weeks ago since moving into the countryside. It's strange, I saw a higher quantity of wildlife living on the edge of a city. It probably all comes out when I've gone to bed!

 

[JudyN]

Lovely! I'm jealous - I now have 700 species of wild fauna that I've photographed, would love to add a bat

 

[JoanneF]

Lovely! I'm jealous - I now have 700 species of wild fauna that I've photographed, would love to add a bat

To be fair, this one wasn't looking at her best. I doubt she'd be one of your better pictures. But, if it's possible when he brings her back to release her, I might be able to get some photos. That would be nice, wouldn't it.

 

[Mad Murphy]

Lovely! I'm jealous - I now have 700 species of wild fauna that I've photographed, would love to add a bat

Id love to snap one too but lighting and their speed and erratic flight patterns are too much for my camera and my skills.

 

[JudyN]

Id love to snap one too but lighting and their speed and erratic flight patterns are too much for my camera and my skills.

Me too, I can't even get photos of insects in flight. Or if I do, it's a complete fluke.

 

[RGC]

Me too, I can't even get photos of insects in flight. Or if I do, it's a complete fluke.

Both you and Mad Murphy could use the slo-mo setting if you have such.

 

[JudyN]

Both you and Mad Murphy could use the slo-mo setting if you have such.

I must admit I've never used video on my camera. Not sure how well it would work, because focusing is the issue, particularly as with the telephoto lenses I use, either the subject is too small for the camera to lock on to it, or it flashes across the lens in 2 milliseconds! Oh to have the muscles to carry a 600mm lens around with me and hold it steady....

 

[Flobo]

When my ferrets were younger and faster my daughter used to video them and take stills from that, after years of taking blurred photos!!
But they were of course a bit bigger than insects or bats though...

 

[RGC]

There’s nothing of finesse re my using the iPhone for photography. The slo-mo feature is amazing. I use it for waves and seagulls accompanying the boat back to St Mawes. If you have the feature give it a whirl. I’d show you my results here but I don’t know how.

 

[JoanneF]

I'm afraid she didn't make it.

Sorry Jo but Isla died overnight, I really struggled to get fluids and meds into her yesterday evening. At 1.00 pm yesterday she was hanging from all fours in the middle of the pop up roof, showing of but it was all too much for her. I'll send her off to the Animal and Plant Health Agency for testing. As nobody has been bitten or scratched it won't be a priority and we won't hear back unless it positive which is very very unlikely. Thanks for taking an interest. Call me direct if the need arises again.

 

[RGC]

What a shame. Poor mite.

 

[JoanneF]

I'm just humbled at how many people were involved, and how hard they tried to keep one little creature alive.

I think there's a life lesson in there.

 

[RGC]

There are some lovely, caring and selfless people out there - hedgehog, cat, dog rescue, etc. keep the faith and Spirit of Woodstock.

 

[JudyN]

Oh, I'm sorry. At least you and the BCT did everything you could.

 

[Flobo]

That is sad news... at least she was in a safe space to pass away thanks to you and the bat team.