I found a bat, and now?
What should you do if you encounter a bat?
ATTENTION!
DO NOT handle the bat with bare hands and do not attempt to rehabilitate it yourself. Doing so could compromise your safety and the bat's life.
The first concern many people have about bats is rabies. Like most mammals, bats can contract rabies. However, less than half a percent of bats actually contract the disease. Furthermore, sick bats do not seek out people to attack; they typically look for a secluded spot to die in silence. According to scientific studies, people do not contract rabies simply by observing a bat in an attic, cave, or from a distance. Moreover, there is no evidence of people contracting rabies from contact with bat guano (feces), blood, or urine, or by touching a bat's fur (even though bats should never be handled).
However, if you are bitten by a bat or if bat saliva comes into contact with your eyes, nose, or mouth, seek medical assistance immediately. Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a laboratory for testing. Additionally, bats found in a room with a person who cannot reliably exclude physical contact (for example, a person who is asleep, a child, a person with a mental disability, or an intoxicated person) must be tested for rabies. If contact occurs or there is suspicion of contact, immediately call your doctor or the local health department. If no contact has occurred, refer to the links above for step-by-step instructions on how to safely rescue the bat.
BATS FOUND INSIDE BUILDINGS
It is more likely that a bat found in indoor environments is a species that inhabits crevices (fissuricola). While the fur color of fissuricola bats is variable, it is generally in a grey or brown tone. Bats found inside buildings are often young ones that are lost or migrating. Simply leaving a window or door open is enough for the bat to find its way out. If the bat is flying in a room or bedroom, you can help it find the exit through an open door or window. To do this, turn off all the lights and, using a flashlight, point towards the outside through the open door or window. Make sure to close all other doors, and ensure that the only open door or window leads outside. If it is not possible to keep a door or window open, and if you feel confident that you can move the bat without physically touching or harming it, proceed with the first step. Otherwise, move immediately to step five.
1st STEP: WAIT UNTIL THE ANIMAL IS STILL.
A bat that is flying is almost impossible to capture, and you will have a higher chance of injuring the bat if you try to catch it while it is flying. Additionally, bats captured while flying often panic and try to bite. Be patient. Wait until the bat lands and remains still before proceeding to step 2.
2nd STEP: CONTAIN THE BAT
Approach the bat quietly and, using thick gloves or a thick towel, capture the bat (hold it firmly but without applying too much pressure), then place it in a box or similar container with a lid. You can use a box, a trash can, or a similar container by placing it directly over the bat. Then, take a piece of cardboard and gently slide it between the box and the surface where the bat is (such as the floor, wall, or ceiling). While keeping the cardboard in place, gently turn the container right-side up. If the bat is captured during the day, proceed to step 5. If the bat is captured at night and does not seem to be a baby bat, proceed to step 3.
Important note: Do not place the bat in a cage or container with small openings. Bats are very intelligent and can easily escape through a small crack.
3rd STEP: RELEASE THE BAT OUTDOORS AT DUSK
Once the bat is captured, take the container outside. Grab a flashlight and bring a towel or gloves in case the bat has trouble flying. Find an elevated area (such as a deck or a staircase), lift the box over your head, and tilt it sideways so the bat can fly out (the bat will not be able to fly out of a container that is upright, meaning in a vertical position). Proceed to step 4.
(Note: Do not release the bat during the day or in cold or bad weather. Instead, proceed to step 5).
4th STEP: OBSERVE THE BAT LEAVE AND FLY
Use a flashlight to observe the bat flying. If the bat does not fly or attempts to fly but seems unable to do so, it is likely injured or sick. It could be a disoriented young bat or simply dehydrated or hungry from being trapped indoors for some time. If this is the case, use the towel or gloves (not bare hands) to collect the bat. Keep the bat in the closed container and place it in a safe location, away from children, pets, ants, or other dangers, and proceed to step 5.
NOTE: It is not safe to try to care for the bat alone – bats should only be cared for by trained and vaccinated individuals. Additionally, to survive, bats in this condition may require electrolyte injections as well as specialized food.
5th STEP: CONTACT THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES
If the bat is injured or unable to fly, you should contact the competent authorities or a Wildlife Recovery Center:
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Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA) of GNR – 213 217 291/2 or through the link.
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SOS Environment and Territory Hotline – 808 200 520.
- Nearest Recovery Center – check the list of centers nationwide.
BATS FOUND OUTSIDE
Bats found outdoors may have brown or grey hues. These bats are often found on the ground in early summer when parents are transporting their young or when the young become stranded after being attacked by predators or knocked down by storms. Occasionally, these bats panic and defend themselves when humans approach, opening their wings in a simulated attack and emitting loud whistles or clicks. Follow the steps below if you find a bat in this situation and need to rescue it. If you don't feel prepared to move the bat, proceed to step five.
​1st MAKE SURE THE BAT IS PROTECTED FROM PREDATORS.
Ask someone to keep an eye on the bat to ensure it doesn’t fall victim to pets, ants, or birds. If the bat remains still and immobile, proceed to step 2. If the bat panics as described above, proceed to step 5.
2nd DO NOT USE YOUR HANDS TO HELP THE BAT. INSTEAD, GENTLY TOUCH THE BAT'S FEET WITH A SMALL TREE BRANCH (ABOUT 10 CM LONG).
This usually triggers a gripping reflex, and the bat will grab onto the branch with its feet. By lifting the branch, you can inspect the bat (or the mother bat with babies) and look for injuries or broken limbs. If the babies are attached to the mother and no visible injuries are found, proceed to step 3. If injuries are detected, proceed to step 5.
3rd MOVE THE BATS SLOWLY TO THE BRANCHES OF A NEARBY TREE.
This should be done with great care. A sudden movement may cause the mother bat to fly away and abandon her young. Using a ladder, gently place the branch in a spot where the foliage and leaves can conceal the bats. The location should be on a branch at least two and a half meters (or more) from the ground, with an open space beneath it to allow the bat to take flight. (Do not place the bats in the same tree where the attack may have occurred, and do not place them on the trunk of a tree where they would be vulnerable to predators. Also, make sure there is no visible bird nest in the tree). Proceed to step 4.
4th MONITOR THE AREA
Check the area the next morning. If the bat remains in the same position throughout the night, it may have an undetected injury, wound, or illness. If the mother bat has disappeared but the babies remain in the same spot, the babies may have been abandoned. In this case, you should collect the bats and proceed to step 5.
NOTE: It is not safe to try to care for the bat alone – bats should only be cared for by trained and vaccinated individuals. Additionally, to survive, bats in this condition may require electrolyte injections as well as specialized food.
5th STEP: CONTACT THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES
If the bat is injured or unable to fly, you should contact the competent authorities or a Wildlife Recovery Center:
​​
-
Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA) of GNR – 213 217 291/2 or through the link.
-
SOS Environment and Territory Hotline – 808 200 520.
- Nearest Recovery Center – check the list of centers nationwide.
NOTE: The information contained in this text about health and/or safety precautions may not be suitable for all individuals and/or situations. It is the responsibility of the reader to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
