[Buffy the eggs layer]

One of our resident bats who roosts in the gaps between the yorkshire boarding on one of our buildings is acting out of character.


Recently he /she has been flying a small circuit through the day and then returning to his  roost but now has taken to hanging on the wall of the building all day. It was pouring down most of the day and I almost gathered him up and put him in the barn. I didn't in the end as I didn't want to confuse him as it's not where he lives. He is hanging about a foot from the floor today which is very un-bat -like. I do hope he isnt ailing for something.

[doganjo]

If you want to help him or her try contacting the Bat Conservation Trust? http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/how_can_you_help_bats.html

[Fleecewife]

Sorry I can't help with any advice.  The National Bat Helpline from Doganjo's link looks like the place to phone.

Let us know what the outcome is.

[Porterlauren]

There will defiantly be a local bat group that could advise etc.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks for the link,


   I will check when its light. If he / she is still there I will give them a call. 

[Marches Farmer]

We'e used the local bat group in the past (an hour crawling around in a 500 year old attic was most informative) and they were great.  You need to be trained before you're allowed to handle bats and don't forget that they may carry zoonoses.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Right,


   my poorly pipistrelle is now safely ensconced in my tiny chick carrier awaiting collection by a bat conservation volunteer. Honestly he is so small, hes about the size of a jelly baby. Despite my insistence that my bats are still hunting at this time of year, the Bat woman was quite adamant that he should be hibernating so I think we will both get told off when she gets here. Ooops


Trust me to have wayward bats






 

[harmony]

Our bats were not hibernating a couple of days ago. Maybe the warm weather has confused them.

[Marches Farmer]

Our bats fly on warmish nights when it's dry and not too windy, and don't otherwise.  Saw several last weekend.  I don't think they have access to a calendar

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Bat has just been collected but by a different rescuer who didn't seem as cross about my wayward bats. They took pics of where he had been roosting and I offered to have him back if he recovers. They said that he was a baby from this years broods who may have got left behind when his mum went out breeding.


I hopes that he makes it. It would be great to have him back.


What with constantly fishing toads out of the pigs waterbath and rescuing poorly bats its like the adventures of Captain Beaky here!

[doganjo]

I don't think our Pipistrelle bats hibernated at all -saw them all. year round out hunting beasties.  We used to sit or stand outside and count them out and in - 50 or so of them. 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

The bat rescuer phoned to say that the bat died. She had gone too far to be saved and next time could I bring any poorly bats in sooner?! 


Ooops! guess I cant do everything after all! But who knew???  Do you ever start something with the best of intentions and then wish you hadn't got involved......

[Penninehillbilly]

These things happen, next time you notice one you'll know what to do, we learn something everyday.
Sorry he didn't make it, not your fault, nature can be harsh.

[Fleecewife]

 

Few people other than bat specialists know much about bats, so that was a bit of a cheeky comment from the rescuer.  It sounds like the fact she was a baby meant that she would die anyway away from her mother, and we don't know how long it had been that she was abandoned.  You gave her a chance   and if you have a sick bat again you'll contact the rescue straight off - and so will all of us who've been following the tale.
Very sad for the baby, but overall something positive has come of it, and of you sharing the problem 

[Ghdp]

I agree with FW. You did all you could for this bat and we are all much wiser and have more of a clue what to do in the same circumstances. Well done for stepping in.