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.
Scout was spotted hanging alone in a backyard tree. We’re very grateful to his finder who called to get him help because he was very thin and tired and definitely in need of rescue.![]()
He wasn’t up to hanging at first so he rested in a hammock in a hospital enclosure. This cheeky boy managed to poke his head out the end of the hammock and pluck off some grapes to munch on. Oh, Scout! That’s pretty clever.![]()
He’s since moved to a flight aviary where he is gaining weight and rebuilding his strength ready for his eventual release.![]()
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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.
Not just barbed wire, but rusty barbed wire. 😭![]()
Mondi is a young black flying fox who was out foraging one night when he became entangled on a barbed wire fence. Barbed wire is virtually invisible to nocturnal wildlife, so is an awful hazard. Sadly, it’s still used for security and farm fencing even though safer and more effective fencing is available.![]()
Mondi is one of the lucky ones whose injuries healed well enough for him to be released. He’s back in the wild spreading seeds and pollinating trees for us.![]()
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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 mid-April, we were called to rescue a flying fox caught in large aperture netting over a banana tree. This caring person called the young boy Turner. Unfortunately, they hadn’t had a chance to remove the dangerous netting when another juvenile black flying fox became trapped a couple of weeks later. We’re so grateful they called again to get help for the second boy, who we named Return.![]()
Netting injuries are insidious. Turner had no sign of any issues at first, but holes have now formed in the wing membrane of both wings where he rubbed up against the netting.![]()
Return also has no sign of injuries, apart from red and sore lips, where he tried to bite himself free. Time will tell if injuries show up over the coming weeks.![]()
We do expect both boys to make a full recovery.![]()
Large aperture netting causes cruel injuries to wildlife, often far more severe than Turner and Return have. Please only use small aperture netting to protect your trees. Shadecloth style is best. Anything you can poke your little finger through is too big. Individual bags are another option.![]()
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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.
Astonished homeowners found Ghost, a northern freetail bat, on the floor inside their house. At first, they quite understandably mistook him for a white mouse. Albinism is a rare condition in humans, and it occurs from time to time in the animal kingdom too. Ghost is the first albino bat that we have ever received into care!![]()
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Ghost was dehydrated and hungry when he was found, but he was otherwise healthy. After regaining his strength and weight, he was released back to the wild to continue his insect munching work. Ghost’s carer instantly became a huge fan of this little star. Who can resist his charm and good looks? ❤![]()
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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.
Dana was close to exhaustion and severely underweight when she landed on the screen door of a resident of an aged care facility. Like Jaft, who you met last week, Dana should have been with her mother but something must have happened to separate them. Poor Dana was trying to survive on her own, but at 10 weeks of age she was just too young. With loving care, she has gradually gained weight and rebuilt her strength. She is now in pre-creche growing bigger and stronger every day, getting ready for her soft release back to the wild.![]()
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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.
Zoe is an eastern cave bat (Vespadelus troughtoni), an endemic species which roosts in caves, sandstone overhangs and mine tunnels. Zoe came into care after her roost was disturbed by accident. While in care, she became known as ‘Zippy Zoe’ because she regularly got the zoomies! We don’t have any video footage of her zoomie episodes around her carer’s bat room, but zippy zoomie Zoe simply would not sit still and wanted to fly every chance she could😄. Not surprisingly Zoe achieved top grades at flight school, where she was sent for the final stage before she was released . ![]()
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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.
Sometimes we don’t get our bat on the first attempt. Jaft was seen hanging alone at a reachable height but when our rescuer arrived, he climbed much higher. It was late afternoon and the road was busy. We didn’t want to risk him falling in front of traffic.![]()
Next morning two rescuers returned with long poles and nets and, success!! A very hungry and thirsty two month old black flying fox, Jaft, was safely rescued. He must have become separated from his mum and was struggling to survive on his own.![]()
Jaft eagerly lapped water at first. Once with his carer in a warm ICU, he tucked into a delicious bowl of smoothie, making quite the mess of himself!![]()
He’s become fond of an adult boy, also with this carer, and snuggles up to him when they’re enjoying outside sun time.![]()
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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.
Remember Stanley and Stu? These gorgeous little boys have been raised by their loving carer and are now ready for the next step on their journey back to the wild. Here they have just moved to a flight aviary where they’ll practise flying til they’ve grown big enough to be soft released. See them gaze around in wonder. There’s a reminder of them as tiny tots at the end.![]()
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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.
Last week we posted the story of James, a yellow-bellied sheathtail bat who came into care for observation after his tree was felled for development. During his time as the house guest of one of our volunteers, James became rather fond of mealworms. Her stock of those gooey, wriggly grubs took quite a hit! ![]()
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Fortunately, James escaped any injuries and we are pleased to report that he has been released back to the wild. Fly free and stay safe, James. ❤
Midnight might just be the most enthusiastic lapper of smoothie we’ve ever seen! He’s a juvenile grey-headed flying fox who was hanging on the side of a barrel used as an outdoor brazier one night. Luckily, it wasn’t lit! Midnight had a few scuffs and was quite underweight, but is otherwise fine. ![]()
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Despite being quite late at night, the wonderful callers waited for our rescuer and kept an eye on Midnight. A large majestic owl also sat nearby, eyeing off Midnight as a potential snack. Flying-foxes are included on the menu of these natural predators, but we hope this one found an introduced pest species of rat to eat that night instead! ![]()
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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.