So I found this injured bat...

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   Shanna11posted 11 years ago

   ...and being the critter-obsessed person that I am, I rescued him from the box he was trapped under in a dark stairwell in the parking garage of my apartment complex. I heard furious squeaking from the box and spent a good amount of time hovering around the box uncertainly, nudging it with my shoe while I tried to guess what was going to jump out at me when I moved the box. Turns out it's a little bat with a hurt wing (possibly both his wings are hurt). One has two small tears in it and I could see a bit of blood in the folds when he tucked his wings in. He seemed pretty lively and otherwise healthy and I called some rescue areas but none of them could take him.
   
   One lady told me just to give him water and mealworms and some rags to nest on. He's hardly moved all morning, except to squeak indignantly at me when I checked to see if he was still alive. He's got water and I have mealworms to feed him, but I don't think he'll eat them based on what I've been reading. I don't know what to do about his wing. The lady I called said she could potentially help him when she got back in a week, but I don't know if I can keep the poor little guy alive. I know they sleep during the day but he wasn't super active at night either.
   
   Has anyone rescued a bat before? Any ideas?

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      Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      A part of me is so proud of you... another part is convulsing.

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         Shanna11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Hahaha he's SO cute though. I don't even know why I think bats are so adorable, but he's so fuzzy and his nose and little squeaks..... I'm hopeless.

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   psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

   Have you tried the local zoo?  Bats are tricky so a specialist is best.  Also they can carry zoonotic disease depending on your region.

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      Shanna11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hmm. I didn't think about that. I suppose calling the SLC zoo wouldn't hurt.

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         Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Be careful. No one needs a vampire running amok in England.

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   psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

   Do you know the species?

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      Shanna11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think he's just an average brown bat. I called the zoo and they gave me a number for a rehab clinic for bats about an hour and a half away, but I'm willing to make the drive for the little guy.

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         Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Im sticking an internet star on your forehead... you're sweet. You get extra points cause the creature is somewhat vile and a little dangerous.

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            Shanna11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Haha yay! I just got back from dropping him off. I was so nervous about him not making the drive or something, but he was just as shrill and indignant when the lady at the clinic picked him up. She said he's still a juvenile and healthy besides the wing, so he'll heal just fine. I even get a case number so I can call and check up on him. Haha.

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               Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Well done!

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         psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         That's great.

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   jandeeposted 11 years ago

   Shanna,
   well done ,hope he survives.  Would you care to visit us in Fr. we have bat visitors in our huge attic which prevent us from using it (bats are protected here)
   hope you sort it,take care,
   jandee

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   MizBejabbersposted 11 years ago

   Bats are adorable, but do be careful because they can carry rabies. We are having a proliferation of bat rabies in Arkansas this summer. We found a little bat at our front door a couple of weeks ago in bright daylight. It didn't seem to be hurt, but we don't know why it was on the ground unless it was sick. Mr. B picked it up with a paper towel and walked over to the woods and gently laid it on the ground. We don't know what happened after that. I'm not sure that there is anything you can do for an injured or sick bat.

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   Marisa Wrightposted 11 years ago

   So glad that this worked out and good for you, Shanna, for caring for wildlife.
   
   Just a note though - bats can carry dangerous diseases in some countries.  Rabies is a good example, fortunately not an issue in the UK or Australia.  Here in Australia we have a horrible new disease called the Hendra virus, incurable and carried by flying foxes.  So do be careful handling bats.

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      Shanna11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yikes! Don't worry, I was super careful and didn't touch the bat at all. I even wore gloves when I gave him water and handled his box, just in case.

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         Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         lol. That's so cute/scary that you gave him water.

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            Shanna11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Haha I handle tarantula's and reptiles for my job, so I was like "C'mon Shanna, if you can do that, you can not be scared of a tiny baby bat."
            
            And I read that bats get dehydrated super easily so water seemed like the best way to help him.

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               Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

               And Hubpages saves another life.

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   A Troubled Manposted 11 years ago

   Well done, Shanna!
   
   Bat houses are easy to build and are a tremendous asset in most backyards. One bat house can have up to 300 bats living inside, one bat can eat 600 - 1000 mosquitoes in one night or whatever other pests are out and about in the back yard.
   
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbtnr4i7Vkg

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      Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ack!

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      Shanna11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oh man, I will totally build one of these when I get my own place/a place with a yard.
      
      Bats are such unloved and underrated creatures....

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   Chatkathposted 11 years ago

   Wow, never heard of a bat rescue before but I know I would have done what I could to save him so hurray to you!! Now the little critter will live happily ever after! Job well done, another animal rescue with a happy ending!

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