Bat care – equipment, kit, food and source suggestions
Based on Avon Bat Group’s real world experiences and information from other sources such as Bat World and Maggie Brown, West Yorkshire Bat Hospital. This page is a memory aid for people we have trained/lectured.

If you have found a downed / injured bat please contact us - details on contact us at the bottom of the page.  It is better if you telephone - if a bat has been injured by a cat,  the quicker we can administer antibiotics the better the bat's chance of survival.  If you are a vet or vet nurse please see the bottom of this page for Information links but please do phone us as we do know some vets with bat experience and extensive experience in bat care and handling.

Rehydration
Plain water or rescue remedy - use a dropper/pipette/clean paint brush not cotton wool buds

small cap from milk bottle for water dish in cage

Adult feeding
Mealworms - most petshops especially those with reptiles or Heidi always has them.

Short term mealworms direct from a shop are OK but for longer periods, you need to feed the worms on a bat friendly diet - Kitten biscuits and fruit with vitamins and added calcium - ask Heidi she has the recipe!

Milk for Baby Bats
Esbilac puppy milk powder – a tin is expensive and will feed hundreds, Heidi has a tin and will supply small quantities as you need it – Maggie Brown does the same thing.  High in calcium and good for growing young bat bones. You can use other milks in emergency (e.g Goat) but Esbilac is the preferable option.

Heat
Heat mats for Babies and hibernators
Habistat Heat Mat. 102x127 4"x5" 4W Around £15 – try reptile shop and websites remember to wrap in a duster

Heat for rescue and release - especially babies
Hot water bottle - remember to wrap in a non-looped cloth (dusters, teatowels) available from Chemists and hardware shops

instant heat packs - one use products such as Hot Coal or rechargeable ones (camping/outdoor shops)

Cages etc
Exo Terra Flexarium – 38 gallon suitable for BLE or Pips £30

The 100 gallon version is a mini flight cage

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/flexarium.php

For Indoor flight - a mosquito net can provide quite a big area but remember to wash it first to get rid of the anto-mossie coating.

Outdoor/rehab flight cage - currently we can use a RSPCA flight cage.

Transport and Sleeping
Small mammal Carriers - eg hamster and rats - remember to check for gaps or slots that are big enough to let the bat escape - available from most pet shops

Shoeboxes or similar - remember to put in air holes.......

Bird/small mammals bags can be useful - British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is a good source

Use dusters, teatowels and Oven Gloves for hiding places and shading - don't use looped towels etc the claws get caught in the loops but for rescue - take a small towel to dry off wet bats

Information Sources

Maggie (or Bryan) Brown, West Yorkshire Bat Hospital, 10 North Avenue, Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS21 1AJ. Tel:01943 466101 (don't be put off by the answer machine, leave your message, if it is urgent and they are there they will pick up)