I am Rehabilitating a Bat- Open Discussion

[Royalty]

I first though about writing about all of the care and guides and stuff I know first but tbh, that would be a novel. Instead I would prefer an open discussion, I am willing to answer any questions but be civil and do not be negative towards bats. Bats have always been feared and with covid on the rise, bats have been the target of unsubstantiated hatred. It is also ILLGAL to kill bats here even if they are in your own home. This species is endangered and an important part of the ecosystem.

I would prefer to keep discussion a bit casual, I will try to link info as needed though my saved links are on my other computer (and a lot is document files)

Some stuff off the top:

This is not my first time rehabbing a bat. Caring for animals is pretty much my fulltime (unpaid) job.

Do not ask how to keep a bat as a pet, they are not meant to be kept as pets.

Also, yes, I am vaccinated and take the proper precautions. I am sure people here on arachnoboards should (hopefully) understand that not all animals are meant to be handled like a companion pet.

One of the reasons I want to make a discussion is that there is not many forums about bats that speak positively about them and most discuss them as pests to rid of. They are very intelligent, more than I think people realize.

 

[Poonjab]

Bats are cool. I don’t know who hates bats. Have you tried breast feeding it yet? It’s something they crave.

 

[8 legged]

Bats are neither a negative nor a problem - unlike those who eat them!

 

[PhoenixFyre]

Living in the country, we have a lot of bats here and I'm grateful for that!
During the summer we get a lot of mosquitos and they help to cut down the population.
I actually thought of buying one of those "bat houses" to put outside in my garden but I was never sure how beneficial it would be to them.

It's the cutest thing to see - every once in a while - little bat feet sticking out from behind my large garden clock because it's hiding from the sun.

They are wonderful animals.

 

[Royalty]

Bats are neither a negative nor a problem - unlike those who eat them!

I have seen such things years ago and since corona virus there has been a lot of misinformation with people thinking it started from Chinese people eating bat soup.

Is bat soup a delicacy in China? We debunk a rumour on the origin of the coronavirus

observers.france24.com

There are people that do, in some Pacific Island nations.

But yes, eating bats is a bad idea. They have evolved to tolerate and carry different parthenogens that can cause great harm to people (or pets).

 

[viper69]

Bats are one of my favorite animals.

I could talk all day about them, and their massive benefit to man.

 

[The Snark]

They have evolved to tolerate and carry different parthenogens that can cause great harm to people (or pets).

I helped a business associate of a friend getting PPEs and an established infection control regimen for collecting and packaging bat guano. Erring on the safe side, full face cartridge respirators, disposable plastic suits, gloves and booties. Straight off the scale in the potential pathogens department. The nuclear fuel of fertilizers.

 

[Royalty]

I helped a business associate of a friend getting PPEs and an established infection control regimen for collecting and packaging bat guano. Erring on the safe side, full face cartridge respirators, disposable plastic suits, gloves and booties. Straight off the scale in the potential pathogens department. The nuclear fuel of fertilizers.

Why did they need to collect it? For fertilizer? Also where did they collect from? (just curious)

 

[viper69]

Why did they need to collect it? For fertilizer? Also where did they collect from? (just curious)

Indeed rich in phosphate if I recall correctly. And also not healthy to breathe in.

 

[kingshockey]

only negative about lil brown bats are when your night fishing and they hit your line making you think you gotta bite aside from that what kinda bat is it? and what/how are you feeding it?

 

[Edan bandoot]

Bats are neither a negative nor a problem - unlike those who eat them!

Eh?

 

[8 legged]

I find it kind of difficult to answer your question... Maybe "Ah!"

 

[Royalty]

only negative about lil brown bats are when your night fishing and they hit your line making you think you gotta bite aside from that what kinda bat is it? and what/how are you feeding it?

It is a little brown bat. I feed it mealworms for the most part (I sometimes give them small crickets or superworm sections and occasionally a meal worm beetle). They can learn how to eat from a dish. (My last one did before release).

They are social so it is sad to keep one alone, but it is necessary while its wing heals.(tears in wings can heal very fast, thankfully no fractures). I might have to keep this one a bit longer than I would like to since it is winter and very cold and snowy here atm. If it could not be rehabilitated it would have to be sent to be paired off. (I could also take in another if there is another case). I talk to them often. (once they are settled) They listen well and are so curious. I also "groom" wish a makeup brush (not one used for makeup)

For flight testing I have a pop-up net tent. They do not "forget" how to fly but I like them to strengthen up a bit before release.

They need good exercise to be healthy and need space for launching. This is another reason why you can not keep them as a pet really. Males are also pretty stinky. They wash themselves in their pee.

 

[kingshockey]

It is a little brown bat. I feed it mealworms for the most part (I sometimes give them small crickets or superworm sections and occasionally a meal worm beetle). They can learn how to eat from a dish. (My last one did before release).

They are social so it is sad to keep one alone, but it is necessary while its wing heals.(tears in wings can heal very fast, thankfully no fractures). I might have to keep this one a bit longer than I would like to since it is winter and very cold and snowy here atm. If it could not be rehabilitated it would have to be sent to be paired off. (I could also take in another if there is another case). I talk to them often. (once they are settled) They listen well and are so curious. I also "groom" wish a makeup brush (not one used for makeup)

For flight testing I have a pop-up net tent. They do not "forget" how to fly but I like them to strengthen up a bit before release.

They need good exercise to be healthy and need space for launching. This is another reason why you can not keep them as a pet really. Males are also pretty stinky. They wash themselves in their pee.

i didnt know about the pee it was neat watching them snag bugs in flight once i was able to track em kinda in flight as they swooped into swarms of skeeters at the lake i used to fish

 

[The Snark]

Why did they need to collect it? For fertilizer? Also where did they collect from? (just curious)

I don't know anything about the operation except it was a commercial venture with a permit.

Of interest is how much organic life is in bat guano. Besides a galaxy of bacteria, many of which create neurotoxins, there are numerous molds and fungi. Put some in a petri dish and incubate. Life emerging from the primordial ooze with a few dozen milleniums compressed into a week or so. Internecine micro-biological warfare.

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

Aw, lil sky puppies are the best. You're a good bean, caring for them. Do you collect samples for researchers studying and tracking white nose syndrome?

 

[The Snark]

One of my favorite pastimes here is going out on the upstairs porch in the evening after a good spring rain. A couple of different sizes of bats are all over doing their aerial acrobatics, very visible under the street lights.
Watching them and reminding myself they are in all intents and purposes blind. Maneuverability wise, no other animal even comes close. Makes hyper ferrets look like tired old bloodhounds in comparison.
And the science. A highly sophisticated encephalitic fluid cushion around their brain protecting it from forces that can exceed 100 G. An invention humans can't even begin to emulate.

 

[Stemmy101]

I feel like anybody that doesn't like bats probably isn't educated on them. How can you not love them? Nocturnal flying mammals that keep insect populations down and use echolocation to communicate, how cool is that! I love watching them fly around on warm summer nights.

 

[wickee]

One of my favorite pastimes here is going out on the upstairs porch in the evening after a good spring rain. A couple of different sizes of bats are all over doing their aerial acrobatics, very visible under the street lights.
Watching them and reminding myself they are in all intents and purposes blind. Maneuverability wise, no other animal even comes close. Makes hyper ferrets look like tired old bloodhounds in comparison.
And the science. A highly sophisticated encephalitic fluid cushion around their brain protecting it from forces that can exceed 100 G. An invention humans can't even begin to emulate.

Just for clarification Bats are not blind although that is a very common misconception.

"We have all heard the saying “blind as a bat”, but are bats REALLY blind? NO! Although Dallas bats, like most creatures, are born blind, by day nine of their life their vision is excellent. The surprising truth is that most bats have eyesight as good better than that of most humans. But, unlike cats, opossums, owls or other night hunting creatures, they do not have excellent night vision."

 

[The Snark]

Just for clarification Bats are not blind although that is a very common misconception.

Visual acuity varies from species to species. Some are able to detect colors and light intensity, some can see in the UV spectrum and they use vision while mating. But in overall eye function their eyesight is significantly less than a human's.
As for being "in all intents and purposes blind" referring to the bats I was watching at night. Do your own test. Le Mans speedway. You are in a Formula 1 up around 100 mph snaking through the turns and curves, the track is unlit and the car has no lights.
Nifty web site about bats: https://www.doi.gov/blog/13-facts-about-bats