ABOUT BAT CONSERVATION AND RESCUE QLD
Bat Conservation and Rescue Qld
is a registered not-for-profit volunteer organization that strives to help people understand the importance
of all bat species, to provide a prompt and humane rescue service, to raise orphans and to rehabilitate injured bats before returning them to the wild.
BCRQ offers this free 24/7 community service all year round including public holidays.
I HAVE FOUND A BAT
SEEK HELP – PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH BATS!
CALL OUR RESCUE HOTLINE ON 0488 228 134
If a bat bites or scratches a human, it may have to be destroyed and sent for testing for Australian Bat Lyssavirus – do not risk the bat’s life or your health. Only people trained and Rabies vaccinated should handle bats.
A flying-fox hanging on overhead power lines may still be alive. Even if dead, it may be a mother with a live baby tucked up under her wing. Please call BCRQ immediately.
If you find a flying-fox caught on a barbed wire fence, please very carefully and without touching it, throw a towel over the bat to help keep it calm. Then call BCRQ immediately.
If you find a flying-fox caught in fruit tree netting, do not try and cut the bat out of the net but call BCRQ immediately.
If the bat is on the ground, please cover the bat with a cardboard box or a washing basket to contain it and call BCRQ immediately.
Any bat by itself through the day is in trouble.
Keep children and pets away from the bat to help minimise its stress and remember, NO TOUCH NO RISK!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
BECOME A MEMBER
Join as an active or associate member. BCRQ offers free training to members.
MAKE A DONATION
Donate via GoGive, Bank Transfer or PayPal.
All donations of $2.00 and over are tax deductible.
Almost 1 million times! That’s how many times our awareness-raising billboards are likely to have been seen so far! And there are still two weeks to go.![]()
We can’t thank Goa Billboards enough for this invaluable opportunity to spread information about bats. The messages focus on how wonderful and important bats are, plus what to do if you find a bat (hint: don’t touch and call a bat rescue group). ![]()
Next week, our adverts will show our message ‘Brisbane loves our bats’, which we know is true because thousands of people ring us for help with a bat in trouble every year. So far our billboards have been in the Brisbane suburbs of Fortitude Valley, Yeronga, South Brisbane, Annerley, Kenmore, Moorooka, Woolloongabba, Stone’s Corner and Kenmore, and next week we’re in Arana Hills and Stafford. Keep an eye out for them if you can! Even better, snap a photo and show us 🙏– as long as it’s safe and legal to do so.![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Dear Local Friends,![]()
We'd love if you could join us and Wildlife Queensland for an unforgettable experience. ![]()
See a baby flying fox and much more. ![]()
It's this Sunday!🦇🦇 Just one week to go until Wildlife Queensland's first Batty Boat Cruise of 2025 on Sunday 19 January 2025. ![]()
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Book today and enjoy a relaxing sunset river cruise on the MV Miramar as you learn all about these important native pollinators, which are Australia's only true flying mammals. You'll even have the opportunity to meet a super-cute baby bat orphan onboard – how special is that? – before cruising back along a river shimmering with city lights. ![]()
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Book online now as spaces fill fast. Go to 👉👉 www.eventbrite.com.au/e/batty-boat-cruise-january-2025-tickets-1116117049139
🚨 Mammoth Rescue Operation to Save 180 White-Striped Freetail Microbats! 🚨![]()
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A large dead standing tree fell on a semi-rural property and was left untouched for five days before the residents went to cut it up for firewood. Upon inspecting the hollow centre, they discovered it was full of nearly 200 juvenile and pup white-striped freetail microbats! The adult bats had managed to escape, but these young bats were left behind, hungry, dehydrated, and in desperate need of help.![]()
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Our rescue team immediately sprang into action, with two of our own rescuers (including a vet and our microbat mentor who drove nearly two hours to reach the site). We were also joined by two amazing volunteers from Bats QLD who assisted in the effort to save as many of these young lives as possible.![]()
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The bats were taken to RSPCA QLD where their dedicated wildlife vet team worked tirelessly through the night to care for the large influx of small patients. A huge shoutout to the RSPCA night crew who came in early, as well as the afternoon team who stayed late to help!![]()
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The white-striped freetails are particularly adorable, with a distinctive white stripe under each wing and some individuals sporting unique markings like a V-shape across their necks or a line across their belly. Some of the bats in this group have their own distinct patterns!![]()
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We are incredibly grateful to have the support of multiple carers from various groups who will assist with the ongoing care of these bats. Caring for this many bats is a huge task, and it’s a team effort we couldn't be more thankful for. 🙏![]()
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As part of our next steps, we are already planning for their future release. ![]()
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Thank you to everyone involved in this incredible rescue! 🦇💚![]()
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📸 Site image credit: Bats Qld![]()
📸 bat photos: Our team![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Florence is one of just a handful of grey-headed flying foxes we’ve rescued suffering from paralysis syndrome. At first, she couldn’t blink, lap or swallow. You can see she is now hanging and able to feed herself to a limited extent. Keep improving, Florence!![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Our first bunch of orphans are ready for the next stage! It is bittersweet for our carers to say goodbye after lovingly hand-raising these little ones for several months. However, their job is done. Healthy well-adjusted orphans are now on the next important part of their journey towards release back into the wild. Over the coming weeks, these youngsters will learn batty social skills with their new classmates and enjoy lots of flight practice in a large aviary. ![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
This spectacular flyout was filmed several nights ago in the town of Maryborough, S.E. Queensland. It is impossible to guess just how many little red flying-foxes have taken up temporary residence along the banks of the Mary River! ![]()
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Little reds are a nomadic species, migrating great distances to follow the seasonal flowering of eucalypts and corymbias. They feed almost exclusively on nectar and pollen. Roosting together in large numbers can cause great consternation for local residents. However, it is illegal to disturb flying-foxes and doing so creates even more problems. Fortunately, these disruptive little visitors move on to do their vital pollination work elsewhere when local food sources are depleted. ![]()
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This amazing video was kindly provided by a gentleman who contacted our rescue hotline only a few months ago when he found BB, a tiny black flying-fox orphan, on his property (see our post 25th November 2024). ![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Chrissy was rescued on Christmas Day - a skinny little girl hanging alone on a fence. We think she may have fallen off her mum by accident into a narrow alleyway. Chrissy’s mum would have been distraught that she was unable to retrieve her baby from such an inaccessible area. Chrissy was lucky to be spotted a few days later.![]()
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As an eight-and-a-half week old, Chrissy has fitted in with some of our hand-raised orphans who are of similar age. Our little Christmas bat is finding her very own pear ‘tree’ very much to her liking – although there’s no partridge to be seen! ![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
As the current tragic episode of Flying-Fox Paralysis Syndrome continues, our hearts are warmed by orphans that are thriving. One such delightful little boy is Chico. He was found on an island in Moreton Bay and carefully transported to the mainland for care. Chico was born considerably premature. One month after his rescue, Chico is only now the size of a one week old baby. He is progressing nicely and will eventually be released with our other hand-raised orphans.![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Here are just some of the flying-foxes in our care recovering from FFPS (flying-fox paralysis syndrome). These are wild adults, so they are a little wary of our volunteer trying to video them. The wing movement you can see is a typical behaviour to cool themselves down on a hot day. ![]()
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We currently have more than 150 FFPS victims in care. For the next three months, flight aviaries on the properties of our volunteers will be home to these bats until they complete the slow recovery process. During that time, each bat will cost approximately $12 AUD ($7.50 USD) per week to feed. ![]()
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Can you assist us with a donation to feed one of these bats for a week?![]()
We would be most grateful for any donations that we receive! Please choose the green “donate” button here: bats.org.au/get-involved/donate/![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Motorists and commuters around Brisbane are in for a surprise on Monday 23rd December when a new 6 week billboard advertising campaign begins! Photos supplied by our members, as well as professional wildlife photographers, aim to raise awareness about bats in two or three different locations every week. Advertising space has kindly been donated by Goa Billboards. ![]()
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Our adverts will be showing for about 5 seconds in every minute (in a rotation with adverts for other things) on billboards next to busy main roads. It is estimated that there will be 32,000 chances for people driving by to see our adverts over the course of the 6 week campaign. ![]()
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Let’s hope people notice and take on board the messages of “bats are wonderful and important”, “don’t touch bats”, “get help for a bat in trouble”. ![]()
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These three stunning images will be appearing this week on billboards at 429 Fairfield Road (Yeronga) and 276 Barry Place (Fortitude Valley).![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.