Three soprano pipistrelles. Credits: Mike Bailey, Hereford Bat Rescue
Whilst taking a year out of my studies to gain employment experience, I have found myself getting involved with my local wildlife groups, one of which is The Hereford Bat Rescue. Under the supervision of the wonderful Mike Bailey, an excellent and experienced bat carer, I have been undergoing an online training course to become a Bat Ambulance Driver – yes it is exactly what it says on the tin, an ambulance driver for bats, registered with the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT).
In this post I hope share what I’ve learnt and introduce you to the importance of these incredible animals and why they so desperately need our help.
Background
To start, I will briefly introduce you to the wonderful world of bats and give you a quick background to these flying mammals. The order of Chirptera (bats) make up over 1/5 of all recorded mammal species. There are currently 1,400 known species of bats found around the world, with 17 species that live and breed in the UK. They are incredibly diverse and have evolved to become highly specialised in their ecological niches. Some bats have evolved to hunt fish or frogs, others feast on fruit or nectar. Globally, they range greatly in size too, with some the size of a butterfly and other bat species having a wingspan of up to 2m.
Photo I took of tent-making bats in Costa Rica
Here in the UK, all our bats are in the family of microbats which can all fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, and they’re all insectivores. Bats are nocturnal, and will spend the days roosting in dark crevasses, naturally in old trees and caves, but now they can be found in roof and loft spaces too.
Rescuing Bats
Hereford Bat Rescue was founded by Mike, a registered BCT bat carer, who until recently, was the sole bat carer for the whole of Herefordshire. In 2020 alone, he took in 106 bats, with 49 being successfully released! In order to increase the number of helping hands, Mike set up an online training course to help train others to become bat carers and bat ambulance drivers to help spread the load – which is where I come in!
So what is a bat ambulance driver?
Here is how it goes:
- When a member of the public finds a grounded or injured bat, they will hopefully contact the BCT hotline (0345 1300 228).
- The BCT will then put the member of the public through to a local registered ambulance driver (i.e. me).
- I will then ask some important questions to the member of the public on the phone to help build a picture of the situation and the condition of the bat.
- We then arrange to collect the bat, where we will ask further questions and check out the location of where the bat is found which could gather vital information on how to help the bat/where to release it once its recovered.
- Once the bat is safely transferred into my car (the bat ambulance!) I will whiz it off to the nearest bat carer.
- The triage process then begins, assessing the health and condition of the bat in order to work out what treatment, if any, is required.
- Sometimes, the bats are fit and healthy and can be released that same day back where they were found, others require medical attention and care until they can be rehabilitated, or sadly when the injuries obtained are too severe the bat must be euthanised to end its suffering.
A juvenile brown long-eared bat. Credits: Mike Bailey, Hereford Bat Rescue
Why are bats receiving so much special attention?
Unfortunately, in the UK, bat populations have dramatically declined in the last century and are now a protected species by law.
Threats include:
- Habitat loss and reduction in suitable roosting sites
- Reduction in food abundance through the use of pesticides and intensive farming
- Cats attacks – one of the most common causes of bat casualties
- Artificial lighting can disturb roosts and negatively impact foraging behaviour
- Roads and traffic fragments the bats habitat and can result in collisions
This is just a selection of reasons bats are threatened, the list continues.
One of the most shocking cause of bat fatalities that I have learnt from my training is from sticky fly-strips. Some bats are small and light enough to get stuck to those horrible paper strips that you hang up to catch flies, where they then die from dehydration or stress. Please, if you take anything away from this article, it’s to not hang up those bat traps. If you must, try hanging them inside a peanut bird feeder – that way the flies can fit through the mesh and get caught but the bats can’t!
Myth Busting
There are quite myths and misconceptions of these cute little creatures held by the public, so it’s important to dispel these myths when we meet with people. Once people have a better understanding of bats, they might show a bit more interest or care towards them.
These are a few myths that bat workers frequently come across – maybe you believed some of these yourself:
1. ‘They suck blood’ – it is true that there are bat species out there that feed on blood, but a) they target cattle, not people and b) they are found in Central America. So, you don’t need to worry about the fluffy UK bats sucking your blood
2. ‘They might get caught in my hair’ – bats have an excellent sense of their surroundings, as they use echo location to find their way in the dark, so the chances of them flying into your hair is pretty slim. They also have similar eyesight as humans, although most bats can only see in black and white
3. ‘Bats will prevent home improvements’ – it may take a little longer for you to carry out work on your home if you have bats present, but there are professionals here to help navigate the issues so you’re able to live alongside bats in harmony
4. ‘They spread Covid’ – It has not yet been confirmed which animal is the source of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19. There are no known zoonotic coronaviruses found in UK bat species – or in the other 1,400 bat species across the globe. It is important to remember that humans transmit COVID-19 to other humans, not bats. The BCT website has more details on COVID-19 and bats should you wish to read further into it.
This Daubenton's bat doesn't look like a blood sucking evil animal to me! Credits: Mike Bailey, Hereford Bat Rescue
The importance of bats
Ok, so now you know that bats are a threatened species, and all the myths you may have heard about them aren’t true – so why should you care so much about them and why are we putting so much effort into protecting them?
Natures pest control
In a single night, an insectivorous bat (all UK bat species) can eat up to 2,500 insects – that includes all the annoying mosquitos and gnats that buzz around and cover you in bites. Studies have recognised that the presence of bats can increase crop yields, and reduce the need for artificial pesticides, preventing chemicals from entering the environment.
Indicator species
Bats are an important part of our native ecosystems and account for almost 1/3 of all UK mammal species. They have evolved to occupy a large range of habitats and being at the top of the food chain, they are very sensitive to changes in the environment and land uses. Pressures that impact bat populations are also relevant to other species, making them a great indicator of the health of the ecosystem. A healthy bat population suggests a healthy ecosystem.
These are UK only examples, in other countries, bats play the vital role of pollination and seed dispersal, helping maintain plant diversity and increasing reforestation.
They’re also just wonderful to watch. If you’ve been lucky enough to sit back on a warm summer's evening, wine in hand, and watch the bats flitter about, you’ll know it’s a magical way to spend a few hours.
This soprano pipistrelle was found inside a holiday let, after being brought the Hereford Bat Rescue, he enjoyed some tasty meals to recuperate before being released back into the wild. Credits: Mike Bailey, Hereford Bat Rescue
What can you do to help bats?
So, I’ve convinced you that bats are an integral part of our environment and are suffering due to the hands of humans. What can you do to help?
Bat pups are absolutely tiny! Unfortunately, pups this young rarely survive without the care of their mum, even with our help. Credits: Mike Bailey, Hereford Bat Rescue
Educate yourself on what to do if you find a grounded or injured bat, and how to reduce the likelihood of a bat getting injured. If you find an injured or grounded bat, report it as soon as you can to the BCT Helpline is 0345 1300 228
The BCT will connect you to a network of local bat ambulance drivers like me who will do all they can to ensure the bat is delivered to the nearest bat carer.
It is important to bear in mind that these tiny little creatures get stressed very easily and it can kill them, so they need you to stay calm and quiet while you wait for help to arrive. Avoid handling a bat with bare hands, if you need to handle it to contain it, always wear gloves. If you get bitten or scratched, consult a GP immediately. A small number of UK bats carry rabies which can be transferred to humans so its important carry out precaution.
A huge cause of bat fatalities and injuries are caused by cats. If you have a pet cat, try keeping it inside 2 hours before sunrise and 2 hours after sun set. This will reduce the likelihood of them coming across bats leaving or entering their roosts when they are the most vulnerable.
During early spring (March and April) bats begin to emerge from their roosts to forage, however, sometimes a harsh winter can leave the bats weakened and malnourished. Keep an eye out for bats in your homes of gardens, they may need a helping hand to get them back to health – and now you know what to do!
A female soprano pipistrelle bat who was found dehydrated and hungry and needed a bit of TLC to get her fit and healthy again. Credits: Mike Bailey, Hereford Bat Rescue
I hope you’ve enjoyed this whistle stop tour of our UK bats and their importance. Now you know what to do if you find an injured or grounded bat, meaning you can act swiftly and maybe save its life. Public education is a huge aspect of bat conservation, so if you hear someone spreading a bat myth, politely correct them and share your knowledge about these cute little mammals.
Look into joining your local bat group and get involved with their work, maybe join a bat walk using bat detectors to listen in on their echo-location. Find out more at: https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work
If you'd like to learn more about Hereford Bat Rescue and their work, check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HerefordBatRescue/
One last cute photo for good luck. Credits: Mike Bailey, Hereford Bat Rescue
References:
Mike Bailey – BCT registered bat carer
‘Bats’ – Phil Richardson
BCT - https://www.bats.org.uk/