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.
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.
Poor Stan is just one of many Paralysis Syndrome cases that we have been called to rescue recently. Coping with the unprecedented level of demand for our services has been difficult for us, and RSPCA QLD who have also struggled with the sudden influx. ![]()
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As we have outlined in our previous posts, large numbers of flying-foxes have been found dead or dying on the ground suffering varying degrees of distress, unable to fly, blink or swallow. The cause has not yet been identified, but it is likely to be an environmental toxin that flying-foxes (and lorikeets) are exposed to when they feed. ![]()
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Flying-foxes rescued in the earlier stages of Paralysis Syndrome can make a full recovery after months of rehabilitation. Mostly adult flying-foxes are affected. However, the helpless babies of dead or dying mothers are also indirect victims as they are left clinging to their mother’s bodies or alone in the trees at the mercy of predators. ![]()
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The effort involved to save many lives is an expense that we were not prepared for. We would therefore 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.
In recent days our 24/7 hotline has been inundated with rescue calls. Our volunteers have travelled far and wide to rescue and transport many victims of Paralysis Syndrome, and also orphans whose mothers have already succumbed to this terrible affliction. The current crisis is having a devastating effect on flying-foxes in S.E. Queensland. ![]()
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As mentioned in our previous post, the cause of Paralysis Syndrome is unknown and is under research. Affected flying-foxes are generally found on the ground or hanging very low in various stages of distress. Some are reported in locations which are challenging to reach. However, when there is a bat in need nothing stands in the way of our dedicated 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.
We are currently experiencing a huge influx of paralysis syndrome cases - the highest number we have ever seen in one season. This condition is a localised toxicity that causes weakness, difficulty swallowing and blinking and respiratory distress. Paralysis syndrome also affects lorikeets which suffer the same symptoms. ![]()
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This video shows what one of our trauma carers is dealing with every day. Spare a thought for the hapless victims of this awful condition, especially the many that die undiscovered. Also spare a thought for our dedicated volunteers who are exhausted by the relentless rescue calls, rescues and grueling hours of intensive care needed for each afflicted bat. ![]()
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Mass mortality of flying-foxes is being reported all over S.E. Queensland. Please check your backyards. If you see a bat laying on the ground, clinging to the trunk of a tree or hanging low, please do not touch and call us immediately. ![]()
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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.
At this time of the year many public events include fireworks as part of the celebrations. It is well-known that the loud noises of fireworks are terrifying for most animals, but there can be other consequences for our nocturnal wildlife. Poor Burnie's singed fur and superficial burns were most likely the result of flying near a Christmas Carol evening when the fireworks display suddenly began. We hope it won’t be long before Burnie’s handsome looks return!![]()
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Please look out for injured bats for a few days after any fireworks in your area. ![]()
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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.