Here’s a bat rescue story that has a good ending, BUT it could have been a very sad story. Recently we received a wildlife rescue call from a location in Rancho Cordova, CA. There’s a building housing several businesses that is a known roosting location for Mexican free-tailed bats and the building management was removing a sign that was high up on the wall. Unfortunately, since it was very cold, the bats there were not very active and many of them just fell to the ground.
Mexican free-tailed bats rescued from the trash
40 bats in there along with the trash!
The maintenance people just scooped them up and tossed them into a trash can along with other debris, including wire, broken glass, and water!
An employee of one of the businesses there saw this happen and was very upset. When bats end up in a deep container like this it is very difficult for them to get out, as the sides are too slick to climb on and the bats can’t use their wings in tight quarters like this. The employee tried to get the bats out of the can but they were had to reach, so she tipped the can on it’s side. Many of the bats (perhaps 40 or so) were able to climb out and fly away safely.
Nine bats were not able to fly away. They were collected from the broken glass, cigarette butts, other garbage, and water, and one of our NorCal Bats volunteers was able to meet with her to bring them back for care.
Rescued bat recovering at the Vet
One of the recovered bats had wing injuries and was treated by a veterinarian we work with. While the bat is healing well, the injury can’t be fully repaired, so this bat will be a permanent resident with NorCal Bats. Initial treatment costs for this bat will be over $300, roughly (including surgery costs, pain medicines, and antibiotics).
Five other rescued bats are in good shape, and they will be candidates for release once we are finished with all of these very strong winter storms. On female, 4 males, all large and healthy.
Unfortunately, three of the rescued bats were too injured to be saved.
Please note that it is against the law to harm wildlife in this manner! Information was provided to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife CALTIP program, and a game warden visited the site to ensure that this won’t happen there again.
We hear too many stories like this. Many people don’t understand the real value that bats provide, and how important it is to protect them. That is why NorCal Bats is committed to public education regarding the environmental benefits of bats. We offer a bats in the classroom program for schools, educational programs for libraries and businesses, and the popular Yolo Basin Foundation bat talks and walks.
Trash can bat
