Bat. The little one.

We thought in this Blog article we will tell you about a recent experience some of our volunteers reported and how we were able to help. 

It all started at work!

This little bat was found in the iForce warehouse in North Northamptonshire, he was crying for help (or likely calling other members of his roost). He was disoriented and lost. Bats are not usually seen during daytime and if not in danger or ill, they should not be disturbed.

This little fella was in a wrong place and needed to be moved as soon as possible, otherwise, he could easily get injured and die. Our volunteers who happened to work in that place were called to the warehouse. As procedures require, the internal teams at the work location were also informed about the incident. 

Step by step - rescue!

The bat was carefully collected off the floor and put in a box. One of the volunteers called out team members and we reached out to the Bat Conservation Trust. Bats must be kept in specific conditions, and it is best an experienced person is involved. A few hours later, the bat was collected by the lovely volunteer Jenny from Leicestershire Bats Trust and will be taken care of and hopefully released close to where it was found in a few weeks’ time. The team at iForce will keep an eye on other bats although we really hope they’re not inside the warehouse!

iForce, well done! 👍

We would also like to praise the team at iForce – both the volunteers and HR and shift management for an exemplary handline of the situation. Not only they did the right thing to call and help he bat, they also supported the volunteers on site and the proper handling of the animal. Well done to all!

Sometimes you just need to know who to call

A few simple rules:

• use gloves! Ideally new and thick latex or similar, but in the event of emergency, any are better than none. Gloves are needed for your and bat’s health – bats can very easily get ill due to bacteria present on Human’s hands. And in case they would bite* (it’s extremely rare!), it helps prevents their saliva to reach your bloodstream.
• be gentle, they are very fragile! Please do not attempt to stretch their wings if you do not know how to do that. They are much more fragile than the wings birds have. 
• put in a box that has a few holes, add a cloth / paper towels and close the top. 
• add one cap of water (cap size of a milk carton or plastic bottle top) 
• do not feed! 
• call an expert, or  contact us  and we will guide you regarding whom to call.

Please note!

*In case a bat bites you, ALWAYS and IMMEDIATELY seek medical help at an emergency room (or call 111) as on rare occasions, bats may be the carrier of rabies. You may be offered injections as a precautionary measure.
Please remember though bats are not normally aggressive towards humans and even if they bit you as they’re scared, this does not mean they are carriers, and you will most likely be just fine. You should not fear bats because the risk is very, very small.

Useful Links: 

Bats Conservation Trust (BCT) in the UK – some of our volunteers are members and we highly recommend you join the BCT too!

You can do that through here:
https://www.bats.org.uk/support-bats

Bats and disease in the UK
https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats

Advice and Help:
https://www.bats.org.uk/advice 

including some common questions around what you should know about bats:
What-do-i-need-to-know-about-having-bats

You can of course also  contact us  and we will do our best to help!

If you were inspired by this story and you would like to help animals in the area with us,  join us , or if you do not feel that it is for you but you have a friend who cares about animal welfare - let them know. We are looking for volunteers.
There are so many things to do. ❤🐾