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 Bank Transfer or PayPal.
All donations of $2.00 and over are tax deductible.
Facebook Posts
Kristen is a lovely subadult girl who was found on the ground with no outward injuries. She could have had a fall and had a nasty headache. After several days of intensive care, she was well enough to join the other rehabbing bats in a flight aviary to continue her recovery. As usual, the existing residents were keen to check her out. All new arrivals are thoroughly sniffed!
You may notice the name MEL on her collar. We reuse collars when we can. Kristen is sporting a collar previously worn by Melanie, a sweet little girl who has recovered and is now flying free, back in the wild where she belongs.
---------------------------------------------------
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.
Cindy is the sweetest little nearly 11 week old black flying fox and she was foraging one night when she became snagged on a barbed wire fence near a flowering tree. Luckily for Cindy, her injuries will heal and she’ll be able to be released back to the wild in the coming months.
The very caring caller has since tagged the fence to make it more visible to wildlife. Thank you.
This barbed wire fence had become dilapidated and had only just been replaced with new barbed wire. We are sad that the property owner wasn’t aware there are wildlife friendly security fencing options. Dear followers, please help us spread the word that there are excellent wildlife safe options for security fencing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Bruce is an adult black flying fox who was found on the ground at the base of a large glass window by a caring couple who called us to help him. Thank you! It seems likely he was confused by the reflections in the glass and flew into it. However, this accident was a blessing in disguise for Bruce because he has some other recent injuries that need treatment. It’s hard to say what caused them, but escaping the claws of a raptor is a possibility. Bruce’s rescue location was near the coast and sea eagles are known to hunt in the area.
As you can see, Bruce enthusiastically lapped his welcome banana smoothie, completely oblivious to the batfly that ran around his head. Many of the bats we rescue have some of these speedy little ectoparasites on board. Fortunately, batflies are host-specific and don’t like humans (the feeling is mutual!)
Bruce has now been transferred into the large aviary to continue his recovery. One of his new friends (a nosey mum with her suckling 15 week old late season baby) was keen to co-star in the video.
---------------------------------------------------
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.
Two more first flyers (last season’s inexperienced babies) who are now around three months old and just setting out on their lives, have got themselves into trouble.
Miso was found on the ground outside a Japanese restaurant, 40% underweight and with some small holes in his wing membrane. Four days later, Shiru was rescued, also 40% underweight. He’s had a crash landing leaving him bruised and sore.
We are often asked the question “How do flying-foxes go to the toilet?” In fact, they are very clean animals and hang by their thumbs to avoid soiling themselves. In the video Shiru can be seen demonstrating this behaviour - which is known as ‘inverting’.
---------------------------------------------------
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.
After hanging alone in a tree for six days, Fred is yet another three month old who has come into our care very skinny and frightened.
Dear followers, please help us spread the message to call about any bat on its own in the daytime *as soon as you see it*. Often people don’t call straight away because they think the bat might fly away, but please don’t wait.
Fred is slowly regaining weight and strength, but this will be a gradual process as he was only half the weight that he should be.
---------------------------------------------------
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.
Grevillea is a first flyer, about three months old. Although he has no visible injuries, he must have had some kind of mishap, because he came into our care only half the weight he should be.
He was found by a kind-hearted lady in a grevillea tree in her front yard. We’re so glad she called to get him help. Grevillea has settled in with some other first flyers to continue his recovery until he’s ready for release back to the wild.
---------------------------------------------------
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.
On the occasion of International Bat Appreciation Day, this beautiful slideshow is courtesy of one of our supporters.
---------------------------------------------------
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.
Sooty, another first flyer, was feeding in a tree near the entrance to an underground car park in a city location. The sound of the garage door opening, or some other noise, startled him. He took off in fright - straight into the underground carpark! Poor Sooty (who earned his name from how grubby he was), flew around for a couple of days trying to find his way out. He had nothing to eat or drink during this time.
Sooty was spotted by a resident hanging on her walking frame. Later he flew onto the vehicle you can see, hanging from the roof rack. Not knowing what to do, this lady called 000 and asked for the Fire Service. For some of our overseas friends this is the equivalent of 911. While some helpful firies did attend, thankfully our hotline was also contacted. Sooty was captured by our rescuer and brought into care. Sooty is recovering from some bumps and scuffs and regaining weight. He has an unusual ruff that extends down his back and up onto the back of his head in a star shape. We think you’re a star, Sooty!
---------------------------------------------------
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 Bilby is a first flyer. He is only three months old and just starting out in life when he became entangled on a barbed wire fence on Easter Sunday. He’s an Easter Bilby! Thank you to the kind person who called us to rescue him.
Bilby has injuries to the membrane of both his right leg and right wing which are healing well. He’s certainly making the most of the banana on offer while he recovers!
---------------------------------------------------
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.
Like the metal after which she is named, Osmium is a stunningly beautiful flying-fox. With an impressive forearm measurement of 176mm, she’s an older lady who clearly has great survival skills. Unfortunately these skills weren’t enough to fend off paralysis syndrome when she ingested the mystery toxin which causes this condition. Happily she made a full recovery. She celebrated her release back to the wild with a magnificent loop above our heads before landing in the camp.
Stay well beautiful Osmium. ❤
---------------------------------------------------
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.