RESCUE ME

What to do if you find a Micro Bat in distress.

• If the Micro Bat is on the ground something is wrong with it
  Please place a cloth and shoe box or container over the Micro Bat. Don’t be tempted to peek
  as some species can fly off from rest or run very fast on the ground
• Hanging low on an external wall, window, or door. If tucked up high in
  corner of a patio or carport it will most likely fly out the next night
• Take a photo if possible
  Switch off the patio fan
  Keep children and animals away from the area
• Micro Bat is Inside your house
• If you see the bat fly into the house at night, you can try and encourage
  it out by:
•  Switching off ceiling fans
•  Closing doors to other rooms
•  Open external doors and windows
•  Switch off lights inside
•  Keep children and animals away from the area
• If you find bat hanging on a wall, flying inside your house or on the floor
  or furniture, there is a possibility it may have been trapped inside longer
  than 24hrs. In which case it will have to come into care
• Switch off all ceiling fans
• Close all doors to other rooms
• Keep children and animals away from the area
• Watch that it doesn’t move from where its roosting
•  Micro Bat is In or hanging on the side of your pool. Microbats can swim quite well but
  have difficulty climbing out of pools. You will often find them on pool
  noodles or hose
• Scoop the Micro Bat out of the pool with a pool net
• Cover the Bat with cloth and box or container
• Brought in by your cat. Unfortunately, cat attacks are a major cause of
  death in microbats, from injury, infection, and stress
• Cover with cloth and box or container
• Switching off ceiling fans
• Closing doors to other rooms
• Keep children and animals away from the area
• Caught in flypaper- leave on flypaper till rescuer arrives

A very small number of microbats carry the Australian bat Lyssavirus,
and we advise that unvaccinated members of the public do not try to
catch or handle any bats. All our rescuers are vaccinated and are
trained to handle microbats safely and are available 24hrs a day for
advice and rescue.
Microbats are vital in controlling our insect populations and assist in
protecting us and our pets against mosquito borne diseases. They
roost in trees, culverts, bridges, and roof spaces around the Townsville
area. They are NOT A RISK to people if NOT HANDLED.

Please contact the 24-hour rescue hotline immediately on 0414 717 374

We will guide you on steps to take if you find an injured or distressed animal.

There’s always a Micro Bat carer available for rescue.