I found this dangling under my car !

[Randy]

It is very uncommon to find bats in homes here in malaysia expecially living in a city.. Any information about these ? i'm thinking of letting it go but it probably wont survive if i were to walk out to the streets and let it go.. did a little google about "Bats" and most of the search results came out with "Bats as natural host of viruses" ???

 

[David_F]

Nice looking bat. I'd say you're pretty lucky to find it.

You might try contacting the Malaysian Bat Conservation Research Unit at Krau Wildlife Reserve. That looked like the best bet from a google search.

 

[Arietans]

A nice find on a car!

Bats aren't that hard to care for, but they need space. They are also very good escape artists. Feeding is hastle free, as long as they food moves (in the case of insectivorous bats). They do like communial living, so hopefully you can find another few on your car.

You might try contacting the Malaysian Bat Conservation Research Unit at Krau Wildlife Reserve. That looked like the best bet from a google search.

This is probably the best plan though.

 

[bugs4life]

I always wanted fruit bats when I was little

 

[OldHag]

I always wanted fruit bats when I was little

There was a guy in our neighborhood that was a professor at a college here. He had a baby fruit bat!! The thing was HUGE! HUGE!! It was fun to hold. It would hang upside down from our hands and "test" its wings! Like being in a wind tunnel! WOOOSH WOOOSH WOOOOSH!! It would pee on my husband everytime he held it too

 

[Brian S]

It would pee on my husband everytime he held it too

Did it learn that trick from you? LOLOL

 

[Gigas]

Did it learn that trick from you? LOLOL

eww, Dont get bitten brian they are choc-a-Block with all the little nasties. I would say drive a bit out of town if you really dont want to release it in the city, but he will deffinately eat in the city, alll the bugs under street lamps are probably the reason he's there

 

[Thoth]

I know in the US a majority of wild bats are carriers of the rabies virus, so be careful.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

So, you drive the Bat-mobile. Cool!


I can't believe nobody beat me to that punchline!

 

[BLS Blondi]

An idea...

That would be the perfect meal for a T. blondi!

 

[Sheri]

I would be really concerned about rabies - if the bat has even licked you, go and get vaccinated. It's not worth the risk. If you are unwilling to do that, keep it a while and observe it without close contact.

If an animal is behaving strangely (and even roosting in an unlikely spot could qualify) then I would be very, very careful.

Once rabies passes a certain point at about 30 days, there is no treatment and you will die.

Lelle told me recently of a swedish girl who visitied Thailand and was licked on the hand by a puppy that was rabid (before visibly showing any signs).
She had a small wound (a papercut will suffice) and the virus entered. When they figured it all out, it was too late and she waited in the hospital to die.

Terrible.

Here is a good link on information about rabies.

 

[David_F]

I know in the US a majority of wild bats are carriers of the rabies virus, so be careful.

Actually only about 1% of wild bats in the US carry the rabies virus. Of course, as Sheri said, if one is acting strangely that's a good sign it's sick (not necessarily rabid though) so it's a good idea to limit contact with the animal.

 

[Scorpendra]

Actually only about 1% of wild bats in the US carry the rabies virus.

glad someone said it. you're more likely to get rabies from a racoon or a dog than a bat.

i love bats, you're so lucky. but i agree, contacting the Malaysian Bat Conservation Research Unit is the smartest option.

 

[Sheri]

I think what was meant is that out of wild mammals you might encounter, the ones that most frequently carry rabies are skunks, fox, raccoons and bats. (and monkeys in applicable regions)

In north america, you are more likely to contract the virus from a raccoon as you are more likely to encounter one in close enough range.

This does not mean that bats are to be feared, nor are any of the other animals that are listed. But it would be senseless to disregard what we do know because we appreciate a species.

I love bats, they're cool as hell. Bats with rabies, not cool.

The dude that found the bat seemed unaware of the risk potential - I would prefer he know than just say "nice bat - they're totally demonized unfairly".

In his end of the globe, rabies are most often transmitted via the domestic dog, this is true. But seeing as he found a bat under his car and not a dog, it is prudent to let him know.

Roughly 50,000 people die/yr from rabies. Not the most fun way ever to go.

 

[Gigas]

glad someone said it. you're more likely to get rabies from a racoon or a dog than a bat.

i love bats, you're so lucky. but i agree, contacting the Malaysian Bat Conservation Research Unit is the smartest option.

Would you risk it? rabies isnt the only thing bats carry...

 

[Midnightrdr456]

possibly setup a bat box in your yard and let the bat free, perhaps it and even some others will make the batbox their home and then you can enjoy them doing what they do best. Just an idea.

 

[Randy]

Well it is indeed acting very strange. Its already very strange to find it under my car with two very curious golden retrievers sitting there watching it and it didnt even fly away. And after keeping it for a day, i dont see it wake up at all? i left it in a open, unused T enclosure just to see if it would fly away in the middle of the night but all it does is sleep. looks very weak tho as tho its dying.. poor thing.. but there's nothin much i can do considering that i had no direct contact with it at all since i got it..

 

[Ewok]

Thats a good rabies link you posted sheri, your right, rabies is a bad way for some one to go.

Also I didn't know cattle could carry rabies well I guess if they get bit by some animal that does have it they would.

 

[David_F]

Also I didn't know cattle could carry rabies

Haven't you seen Old Yeller?

Sheri...I wasn't saying this guy shouldn't be worried about rabies. Just clearing up a common misconception about bats. Probably should have made that more clear.

 

[The Snark]

If the bat is acting unusual, take Sheri's advice. Actually, it already is acting unusual. Keep in mind, nearly all true bats are photophobic and want to hide from light.

Bats are natural hosts of dozens of types of bacteria and diseases and subsequently are not recommended as pets.
Keeping bats, from a friend who is a curator at a zoo:
The general rules are, never handle bats. Never let them anywhere near food storage or eating areas. Exercise standard isolation and contamination protocol in the room where they are kept. Avoid contact with their feces. Use a respirator if there is reason to suspect airborne dust and dirt contaminated with their feces.

While these rules may seem exceedingly strict, they indicate that bats present a significant hazard to health.

Speaking as someone who was bit by a rabid dog once, above all else, watch for signs of rabies as Sheri mentioned and take no chances at all in that regard.