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Project Noah Nature School
Was sick and hurt. Small Brown fur, brown skin. I would say he was like 2 inch long.
Found in a stair well.
Spotted on Jun 15, 2013
Submitted on Feb 23, 2016
2 Comments
It was along time ago. But we got a box and got him in by using a broom to gentally get him in. Then animal control took him.
It is a bat. I'm not so familiar with western bats, so I can't pinpoint the species.
NEVER pick up a grounded bat with bare hands. Even an otherwise healthy bat will be extra-defensive on the ground and will bite. A grounded bat is a helpless bat, as they must drop from above to get air-born. (Vampire bats are an exception, btw....!)
There are a few reasons why a bat will be on the ground, and most of them spell trouble for the bat. It could be injured, and not able to fly. It could also be sick, and too weak to fly. That spells trouble for both the bat and potentially the person trying to help.
What to do:
1) wear thick leather gloves and scoop it gently into a cozy box with a lid (punch holes for breathing)
2) secure the box, and keep away from inquisitive pets and people (esp. kids!)
3) call either a wildlife rehabber that will accept bats (only a few do, unfortunately), or your state wildlife commission. Follow their directions.
Bats are amazing little creatures that usually get the short end of the stick as far as public awareness, and knowledge/desire of rehabbers to care for them when they are merely injured and otherwise healthy. The disproportionate fear of rabies overshadows the rest.