Drowned bat

[Jester]

hey I haven't been on much but I find myself in need of advice. I'm sorry if this is choppy I'm posting it from my phone and in a hurry. I was swimming in my pool not even ten minutes ago and as I was climbing the ladder I noticed something stuck to the bottom of one of the steps on the ladder. I thought it was a leaf, but it wasn't it was a bat. poor thing was clinging to it, half submerged in water and was completely submerged every time the water rippled the slightest bit. I grabbed a towel and used that to scoop him out but he's now just sitting on the edge of the pool not moving. he's still alive though because I can see him breathing very very faintly and every time a gently touch him with the towel he'll slightly move a wing or something. what should I do?? I know better than to touch him because of rabies, should I take him in and try to warm him up somehow or dry him off? should I leave him there and hope he dries out on his own? I've never really run into a situation like this before so I would really appreciate help. thank you!

[Best Life]

Thank you for getting him out of the pool! I don't know :dono - BUMP BUMP BUMP Anybody out there?

[stepnstone]

I don't know anything about bats but I would try and save the little guy by putting him in a dark dry space for now and see if he won't recooperate. Don't know about putting him on any heat though but keep him out of the cold. There are members that have taken in bats and will know what to do, hopefully someone that does will get back to you soon enough.
Nature's gift has recently took in a bat, hope she sees this, in the meantime maybe look up her post(s) and see if you can get anything from them. Her post on the bat is under "new babies".

[Jester]

Thanks. I didn't want to leave him on the edge, he wasn't moving at all and bugs started moving in close to him. I put on some gloves and put him in a crate we keep our pool toys in and put a towel on the bottom. He made a lot of screeching when I picked him up, scared me half to death lol.. But he otherwise went into the crate without a problem. Once I put him in there, he started licking himself. I guess that's a good sign...I hope.. I don't think he can fly yet though. I don't know if I should leave him locked in there till he dries off and can move better or if I should leave it open, or if I should take him out of there all together and put him on a tree or something... Here are some pictures of him. I felt really bad using the flash but it was the only way I could get pictures of him and see him out there.

[stepnstone]

I would be inclined to contain him until I heard from someone in the know, there was a reason he wound up in the pool. He's definetly worth saving! Of course problem is it's so late (or early) but you are bound to hear from someone that can advise you sooner or later. UDoWhat has also handled bats so I know there is someone that can and will advise you. Best you can do for now is just keep him safe, sounds like he just may be a bit feisty which could be a good sign. I think that's a brown bat from your pictures, from what I can tell his wings look to be intact.

[Best Life]

I'm combing through the internet looking... there is this http://www.batworld.org/bat-rehabilitation/ but i can't find specific info about what to do if they are found drowning. There is a page to locate Local Rescue... still looking.

This link within the site warns against containers with even SMALL openings in them http://www.batworld.org/what-to-do-if-you-found_a_bat/

[BamaHam]

He's probably exhausted from " the swim" he didn't plan taking when he swooped down to drink water. I've seen them do that in my pool and wonder how they keep from drowning. (Apparently some do drown)I guess he missed judged his dive. Just give him time to rest and wait for others with experience help out. Licking himself is a good sign. Maybe he'll take flight soon. They are cute to watch, they bathe like cats and stretch out. If you keep he overnight, put him in a dark place and make sure its not too hot.

[Jester]

Thanks for all the advice, there is a new development. I checked on him, he's now hanging from the top of the container. I moved him inside with the intention of giving him a night to rest, but I read the article Best Life posted, not sure if that's such a good idea now. The crate has slits that are about a half inch wide, do you think he could try squeeze through those? If so, maybe I should try to release him tonight just to be safe..

I also read naturesgifts thread but I didn't really see anything that could help me with this, I tried offering him one of Jester's worms but he didn't go for it. :(

Another thing, he's hanging from his feet and one wing, not sure if somethings wrong with his other wing or if he's only holding on with one wing because where he's positioned on the crate there aren't any openings to hold onto near that wing.. I hope its the just where he's positioned.. :thinking

[BamaHam]

He's hanging upside down in the crate, sounds as if he is regaining strength. I would put the crate outside and open it and see if he flies. Just make sure he's in a safe spot away from predators. It might take him a little bit of time. I do know this--they can clear out late night, unwanted guest in your pool real fast.LOL. Also snakes.:rotfl

[BamaHam]

Are you in the south? That looks like a brown bat that was endangered at one time recently (if not still) in Alabama.

[Jester]

Nope, I'm way up north lol. I think they're fairly common up here, although I think this is the first bat I've seen so far this summer which is unusual.. :thinking

I guess if he's feeling up to it, I could try to open it up and see if he's good enough to fly away.. I'm just afraid now of him escaping in here while I'm asleep, or worse, getting stuck in one of the openings so I don't know what else to do.. He seems pretty dry now.. :dono

[Twi_prime]

Nope, I'm way up north lol. I think they're fairly common up here, although I think this is the first bat I've seen so far this summer which is unusual.. :thinking

I guess if he's feeling up to it, I could try to open it up and see if he's good enough to fly away.. I'm just afraid now of him escaping in here while I'm asleep, or worse, getting stuck in one of the openings so I don't know what else to do.. He seems pretty dry now.. :dono

Whatever you decide to do, good luck. Thank goodness you found him. Makes me want to watch my pool more closely. *cringe*

[Theresa Roalstad]

Looks like Big Brown to me. If it has been 24 hours you can be sure he is rabies free so no need to worry about that. Always use gloves as they still can break skin and startle you. You would not want to leave the crate on the ground as cats could get him easier. All he needs is to be dry and you should be to let him hang on the side of a tree, when he is ready he will fly. I would wait until dusk but that would be to make him/her feel better, and give me time to examine him. You can let him go during the day as they do not mind the sun and might enjoy the warmth if he is cold. You will not see much reaction until he get really warm. I have seen bats hang by one toe if that make you feel better. Thanks so much for saving him, I have seen many drowned bats and they are so sad looking. Baths are never much fun for mine but they like the blow dryer. Good luck.

[island rehabber]

:thankyou Theresa, I was just going to PM you about this poor soggy little one!

[Theresa Roalstad]

Batty Kota

[island rehabber]

Adorable! (except for the worm) :D

[JakesLittlePrincess]

Nice picture! Looks like he has a floppy toothpick in his mouth!

[BamaHam]

Nope, I'm way up north lol. I think they're fairly common up here, although I think this is the first bat I've seen so far this summer which is unusual.. :thinking

I guess if he's feeling up to it, I could try to open it up and see if he's good enough to fly away.. I'm just afraid now of him escaping in here while I'm asleep, or worse, getting stuck in one of the openings so I don't know what else to do.. He seems pretty dry now.. :dono
Yeah, they can squeeze thru just about any little crack. You might of woke up with a bat in your bed. Let us know what ever happened to him. I have dipped out of my pool a kitten, rabbit, squirrels, chipmunks, snapping turtle, birds, lizards, moles, and snakes (not all of these animals were alive unfortunately, just most)so everyone should check their pool daily. It's unfortunate to find one floating. We have a fence but cats bring somethings over the fence and they try to flee and end up in the pool.

[stepnstone]

:wave123 Morning Jester, looking for an update on your batty situation. Fly off, keep him... both of you sleeping in late? :thinking

[pappy1264]

Yes, he can get out of the holes when he has enough stregnth to. (I speak from experience on that! lol) You can see if he will take a mealworm (use tweezers). He most likely was very chilled, can take them a bit to recover from that. How is he today?

[Best Life]

Jester?!

How is your bat buddy this morning? I hope everything is okay.

I see that Bat People have been coming on. Are there websites or books any of you would recommend on the subject? I was really struggling to find information online that would be of any help, and I would like to expand my ever-growing library!

[Jester]

Hey everyone, sorry I passed out while uploading the photos to my computer last night lol.. :wave123

I decided to try to let him go, because I was worried he'd try to escape and I didn't wanna risk waiting longer because I didn't know releasing him once the sun came up would still be alright.

I took the crate outside and opened it to see if he'd take flight, he didn't. He just kind of sat there clinging to the lid even with it flipped open. I gave him a couple more minutes followed by a gentle nudge, and he finally started crawling a bit. I tried offering him the waxworm that was sitting in the bottom of the crate again, I didn't have any mealworms left so I didn't know if he would take that or not, he seemed a bit interested in it..he followed it around and had his mouth right on it but he wouldn't take it. Since he seemed capable of moving, after a while I picked him up and put him on a tree and watched him try to climb away. He climbed very slowly, he kind of rubbed his mouth on the tree as he went up. I don't know if he was doing that to navigate or to try to grip onto the tree better, but he got about 12 feet up before stopping and resting. When I woke up today I ran out and checked to make sure he had gotten away and that he wasn't lying at the bottom of the tree.. I woulda been heartbroken.. But he was gone!! Nowhere in sight. :wott

Thank you so much for everyone's help! Sadly this was my first time finding an animal in my pool that was still alive so I really didn't know what to do.. :shakehead Not to mention it was probably my first time within 30 feet of a bat...They're so adorable up close lol.

[Jester]

And Theresa, that little guy is so cute!! :Love_Icon

[scoobysnack]

Yay for you and yay for the little batty!!!!

[stepnstone]

He looks good climbing up the crate, hopefully he took flight and headed home. I'm sure he's thankful for the water rescue...

[Jester]

He looks good climbing up the crate, hopefully he took flight and headed home. I'm sure he's thankful for the water rescue...
Its really strange, I had the gloves on but even still he never once tried to bite me.. I wonder if he could sense he was being helped..

[Best Life]

Hurray!! :D Great pictures, too. What an adorable little guy!

[stepnstone]

Its really strange, I had the gloves on but even still he never once tried to bite me.. I wonder if he could sense he was being helped..

I've often had that feeling over many critters that I have handled trying to help them, I think they know. But... :poke Never trust a snapping turtle! They don't give a damn!