Pjrt Posted July 28, 2013 Author Share Posted July 28, 2013 Aww, it must have wandered into the house and looked for a dark, enclosed place to roost. Bats go into torpor when they roost, so they often can't fly away if disturbed because they are too slow and sleepy. That is a small one even for a microbat. Maybe it's a forest bat. Many of those are insy weensie. Most species rarely bite or scratch when they are in torpor. I have met a few exceptions. Best to handle them with gloves on. They are so little most types of gloves can be protective enough. Just got to make sure with the reduced dexterity and sense of touch you don't drop them or squish them. I've always thought they feel very fragile. Maybe you could put a bat box up in your yard. Studies show bats use boxes even in the middle of suburbia. As long as they don't get taken over by bees or ants. It gives them more places to roost so less competition with other animals. Thank you. That is all very interesting. I haven't actually touched it. I just tipped it into a little food container full of tissues with some air holes in the lid. It spread its wings and they look undamaged. I think the entry point is either the disused chimney above the metters stove in the kitchen, or through the old fashioned wall vents in this old house. They are a lot more porous than the modern designs. Sort of swirly patterns cut out of a metal plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe001 Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 As already said it is a microbat. They hunt moths and insects at night and catch one approx. ever 7 seconds. When the sun rises they generally roost where ever they are. So it was probably in your house and the sun came up so it went to sleep. Definitely don't let it touch you as they carry bad human diseases. Grab it in a towel and pop it up in a tree (doesn't need to be high) just after dark. It will fly away. I get them here in the stables quite often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casowner Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 (edited) I used to specialise in wattle bats and the such, they used to come into the AWL after being stuck on truck grates. They are one of my favourite animals and a real delight to care for let me know if you need help Keep it covered and if he/she needs feeding in the interim crickets and mealworms will suffice, I prefer them to be dipped in insectivore mix and pre feed the insects gutload but beware they are noisy little eaters. We have them at home at night and I sit out there and watch them darting, they are adorable but very sensitive and stress easy We had a moth trap that we used to catch moths for the bats and softbills/finches, the things you do :laugh: Edited July 28, 2013 by behluka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Hopefully tonight in the quiet , he/she will fly off without trouble :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pjrt Posted July 28, 2013 Author Share Posted July 28, 2013 Looks like we have a happy ending. I took the bat out to the big gum tree at the front of the house just after dusk. I shook it rather indignantly out of the tissues onto the trunk of the tree. It just sat there for a few minutes but every time I moved it screamed at me! So I backed off and waited with a torch. It scampered up the tree a little, screamed a bit more & flew away! So i'm really hoping that it'll be drinks all 'round and a 'you're never gonna believe this....' story at the bat bar tonight. Just confirms what we knew all along I guess. I am bat shit crazy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Or you have bats in the belfrey :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pjrt Posted July 28, 2013 Author Share Posted July 28, 2013 I twas certainly the most action I have had in my pants for a while ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Excellent! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Normally if bats are woken from torpor it's best for them to go not care until spring. They use energy reserves to wake up and will usually not have enough left to survive the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 (edited) Double post gremlins... Edited July 28, 2013 by Alyosha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Normally if bats are woken from torpor it's best for them to go not care until spring. They use energy reserves to wake up and will usually not have enough left to survive the winter. I'm hoping he only arrived in the last day or so, otherwise those jeans have been sitting around for a looonnnngggg time :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Really? I was told by bat experts that as far as anyone knows no bats in Australia hibernate. If I remember correctly, they think in winter the bats may stay in torpor for a few days or a week, but will still come out to hunt. We used to trap and detect the calls of bats all year 'round when I was doing impact statements. In winter sometimes it would take a while for the bats to warm up enough to fly once evening came around. Bat people have a bunch of tricks, like putting them in a car by the heater or tucking them into bras. I should ask my friend, who is doing a PhD on bats at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 I certainly still hear them around here at the moment and it's bloody cold at night. My car beeps at me every morning to warn me the road might be icy LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 I'm not a PHD holder on bats... Am only repeating what experienced bat carers have told me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 What are the odds? Finding an albino bat in your trousers or winning tattslotto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 What are the odds? Finding an albino bat in your trousers or winning tattslotto? Probably shorter odds on finding a bat in yer daks... lol! T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coogie Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Love a happy ending, pleased he took off Skyefool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 (edited) They do manage to get into the most unusual places- this little dude was rescued (by a snake catcher in the end) from the cat ward of the local RSPCA before he turned into dinner! He was happily released that night. It was mating season and he was very feisty :) Edited July 29, 2013 by Jumabaar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Ooo. That one's a Gould's Wattled Bat, I think. The OP's bat is light, but not albino. Albino bats are stunning and very rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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