You wouldn't believe what spent the night in our brooder last night

[KimberlyJ]

Good job! Bats are living things too, glad you could help out. I'm sure your brooder has been cleaned by now and is drying out and waiting for it's next adventure.

 

[drumstick diva]

I'm not running around like henny penny. In summer we have loads of bats flying around the street light catching bugs at night. But, I have always read you don't ever approach a bat laying on the ground,. I wouldn't try to pick up a raccoon or opposum or fox, that didn't move away at my approach. I did want to help a hummingbird that once knocked himself out on our picture window. I saw he had a little blood around his beak(?). By the time I got outside he was gone.

They have had several reported cases of rabies in bats in suburban areas close to us - our area has aloads of forest preserve area and all the accompanying critters.

 

[drumstick diva]

Oh want to add - the several reported cases of rabies in bats were NOT in this cold weather but from last summer. I haven't gotten around to researching bats on google because I was busy doing so re: Canadian geese for someone without a computer. Didja know they can live to be 24 years old? Now you do.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
So am I! I would love to put up bat boxes. They're major mosquito catchers. I've thought about buying some bat boxes, professionally made, but then I'd still have to find a good place to put 'em.

There are SO many things that can knock a little bat out of the air, and they CANNOT launch from the ground. You did good!

 

[smileysal]

Quote:
Who Canadian geese or your friend without a computer????!!!!

Well done Batty, there could be many numerous reasons why the little fella was there, the good news is he was helped and recovered and lived to fly away!!!!

 

[drumstick diva]

for "someone without a computer." Not "some goose." I don't think geese can afford a computer.

 

[smileysal]

Quote:

Tell that to Jack my Chinese gander, he's got his own Facebook page!!!

 

[EricH]

at least it wasnt a bird coming out of your wood burning stove... when you went to start a fire in a half-lit room... talk about freaked out...

 

[debid]

Oh.my.goodness. I am not an idiot. The bat was scooped up on a plastic fly swatter for transportation to the brooder box and slid onto the platform from the swatter. I would never pick up a wild animal that was sick or injured with my hands! And I already said I would disinfect the box AGAIN (did it once already since it was used for other chicks...) I have to wait for the sun to come out but that is scheduled for tomorrow leaving it 6 full days to air out afterward. I think it will be fine.

As for what happened to that poor bat... We've been doing some work in the garage and leaving the doors open while we're working. I'm guessing that Batty ducked into the garage for cover when the latest storm kicked up and then we closed the doors trapping him inside. He was subsequently stuck in there alone and without access to water for at least 24 hours. So, he was on the ground because he was dehydrated and cold and near death. If he were too sick to fly because he was rabid, he wouldn't have recovered with one night under a heat lamp.

 

[ragerkid2]

Cool!