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.
Titian, Sia and Manet are all adult black flying fox girls who were rescued in January suffering from Flying Fox Paralysis Syndrome (FFPS). You’ve met Sia before.![]()
Poor Manet had burns to one wing as well as FFPS. We think they’re from fireworks.![]()
And Titian had some dental issues. Huge thank you to the wildlife vet team at RSPCA QLD for treating her teeth.![]()
All three girls are recovering well although they’ll be in care for some time yet as they continue to gain weight and rebuild their strength.![]()
----------------------------------------------------------![]()
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.
Young Gary was out foraging one night when he became stuck in the rigging of a beached sailing vessel. ![]()
It was very high and difficult to access, but that didn’t stop some caring and resourceful local residents from helping. Another group that we work with, Wildlife Rescue Queensland, was putting plans in place for this challenging rescue, when these amazing people were able to free Gary themselves. They used a ladder and a pole to ease the wire away from him. Once free, Gary attempted to fly but only managed to glide down to the beach. These heroes then popped a box over him to keep him safe til he could be transported to Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. He had treatment there – thank you! – and is now continuing his recovery with one of our carers. He has grazes on both wings and his chin and all are healing beautifully.![]()
Gary is around four months old and you can see how small he looks next to a fully grown adult male black flying fox.![]()
![]()
----------------------------------------------------------![]()
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.
Noosa Golf Club has been in the news for the tragedy of many dozens of flying foxes caught in their driving nets. A Brisbane golf club has the same issue, on a smaller scale. This club has three nets that are each 25m high with fig and other trees attractive to flying foxes between them.![]()
It was a disaster waiting to happen and we’re disappointed an ecologist wasn’t consulted in the planning stages.![]()
We’ve been called to this club six times in the last few months for eight bats. The survival rate has been sadly low.![]()
Three of our intrepid members have taken turns to go up in the spider lift to rescue each bat. Huge thanks to a neighbour of the golf course who checks the nets daily and calls us, as well as the club. Thanks also to the club who are arranging for reflectors to be installed on the nets to make them visible to nocturnal wildlife.![]()
![]()
----------------------------------------------------------![]()
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.
You wouldn’t expect flying foxes to be at risk from discarded fishing line, yet entanglements like this are surprisingly common. Flying foxes drink by “belly dipping,” skimming low over water as they fly. Little Dory was likely caught during one of these night-time passes.![]()
Luckily for her, a caring local resident noticed Dory hanging over the river in distress and called BCRQ for help. She’s now resting up in care and will be released back into the wild once she is fully recovered.![]()
![]()
----------------------------------------------------------![]()
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.
Damo was rescued from entanglement in a pandanus palm 4 metres above the ground, with braided fishing line tightly constricting four of his toes. He settled very well into care while his injuries healed, happily munching his way through large quantities of fruit and politely taking his medication (disguised in mango juice). ![]()
![]()
It is currently mating season for black flying-foxes, when adult males produce a distinctive vinegary smell. Weighing 908gms (approx. 2lbs), big handsome Damo is in his prime - and he is particularly pungent!![]()
![]()
Opening every door and window in his carer’s house did not diminish Damo’s eye-watering fragrance, so he was evicted from the ‘bat room’ to complete his recovery outdoors. His (apparently) alluring aroma wafted around the backyard, attracting passing bats to circle around or land on the aviary every night. We did not manage to capture Damo’s huge victory lap on video when he was released, but he was clearly very keen to make up for lost time with the ladies! ![]()
![]()
-----------------------------------------![]()
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.
It was nearly midnight when our phone volunteer received a call for a bat on the back patio of a unit. This unit is beside parkland in which there’s a flying fox colony along the creek. The lovely callers enjoy seeing the bats but this night, they found a little lost boy clinging to a gate. Many of the units have large glass doors so we think young Jesse was confused by reflections in the glass and flew into one.![]()
Thanks to our dedicated rescuers for going out so late and thanks to the callers for his sweet name. Jesse is only three months old so he’s settling in with our hand-raised orphans. When he’s bigger, we’ll soft release him along with those orphans. ![]()
----------------------------------------------------------![]()
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.
Why would you eat the fruit in the tray when you can lick the sweet juice infused with high protein supplement that’s dripping through the drain holes?![]()
![]()
Winnie has got it all worked out.![]()
![]()
----------------------------------------------------------![]()
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.
Gilly and River would like to ask pool owners to please provide an escape route for wildlife.![]()
Gilly, a black flying fox, was just 9 weeks old when she ended up in a backyard swimming pool. River, a four month old grey-headed flying fox became trapped a few days later in a different pool. Both girls swam round and round, trying to find a way out. Gilly grazed her wrists and finger joints down to the bone, while River wore one thumb nail right down.![]()
Thank you to the kind resident for putting a pool noodle in the water for Gilly to cling to until our rescuer arrived. Thanks also to the wildlife vet team at RSPCA QLD for checking Gilly over and treating her painful wounds. Both girls were exhausted and slept deeply for some time after their rescues.![]()
A rope, a piece of shadecloth, or a purpose built escape route you can buy, are all options to place in pools. Frogs, snakes and bats, both microbats and flying foxes, will thank you.![]()
![]()
----------------------------------------------------------![]()
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.
Flying fox paralysis syndrome (FFPS) victims have been thankfully fewer this year than last, however we have still rescued and cared for 40-50 of them over the last four months. Last week, Elmer, a stunning grey-headed flying fox with FFPS was released after over three months in care. In the same week, Mawson, a beautiful black flying fox, was rescued with the same syndrome. After initial treatment at Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, he was discharged into our care, where he’s doing well and will soon join the other recovering FFPS bats in a flight aviary.![]()
![]()
----------------------------------------------------------![]()
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.
When people fish and leave snagged hooks, lures and line in trees, it’s a dangerous hazard for wildlife. Three month old Brook was flying near her camp when a fishing hook dangling from a mangrove branch, lodged in her lip and wing, cruelly trapping her and leaving her suspended in pain and terror. The hook and line was invisible to her at night.![]()
Brook is very lucky that one of our regional members was visiting Brisbane and put her tree climbing skills to work to save the young flying fox.![]()
Brook’s injuries are healing and soft, ripe papaw is just the thing for her sore mouth.![]()
Thanks very much to the kind man who saw her and called to get her help.![]()
![]()
----------------------------------------------------------![]()
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.