this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2024
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Bats
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Bats are cool
Bats are the only true flying mammals. There are over 1,400 species of bats, and they can be found on nearly every part of the planet. Not only are they cute, they are also important...
Studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Without bats’ pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, mangoes, agave, or cacao… that’s right, bats bring us tequila and chocolate!
Found a bat in need of help?
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Do not handle it with bare hands! Bats can carry rabies.
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Here's a map of worldwide rescues and temporary care instructions.
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Bats should never be kept as pets: Here's why.
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Anecdotaly, if ever a bat gets into your home and is flying around unable to escape, the easiest way to relocate it safely is to slap it out of the air with a bath towel whip.
In college, my best friend did this to a bat on his first try and it became the stuff of legend. Years later, stay at a hostel with some friends, a bat got into our room and I remembered the towel trick. First try! It was surprisingly intuitive.
I carried the bat (after getting gloves) outside where it lept from my hands and flew to safety.
The more you know!
Whip the bat or the air?
Whipping the bat seems aggressive.
I suspect just the air near the bat, as we both did it on our first try. Bats are small and fast, so the odds of us hitting the bat on the first try is low.
To be fair, in both instances, the bat had gotten into a building and couldn't be shooed back out, so intervention is pretty important to saving its life.
Once it's on the ground, you pretty much have it, as they can't take off from the ground. Mine scampered under a bed very quickly and we had to move the bed to scoop it up and carry it outside.
In both instances, the bat was perfectly fine and flew off safely once outside.