Shoalhaven Bat Clinic - Wildlife Rescue SC Inc.

02/09/2025

Did you know that there are over 80 different species of Microbats found in Australia? Many people have no idea how many fly above them in the night skies or how many disease carrying mosquitos and pesky insects they are consuming each night, providing valuable pest control services for our crops and supporting a healthy ecosystem.
In the past 5 years, we have had significant increase in calls for microbat rescues and advice for roosts being taken up in homes. About 5 years ago, I'd be lucky to be called to one microbat a month and now we taking sometimes several calls per day.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀???
Many of our microbat species are forest dwellers, living in tree follows, under tree bark and under foliage. Their habitats are being impacted by deforestation, bush fires, domestic animal attacks and human interaction. They are seeking refuge in house roofs, outdoor furniture such as umbrellas and blinds and even in your woodpiles.

You can help by preserving native vegetation, monitoring tree hollows before felling, replacing lost habitat with bat boxes may provide short term safety for residents bats, keeping cats indoors, eliminating chemicals in crops and pest control around your home and by reporting any injured bats, bats alone during the day or low to the ground immediately to your local wildlife rescue group. Never attempt to handle any bat without appropriate vaccinations and training.

📸 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘉𝘢𝘵 - 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨.

01/09/2025

Today marks the start of Spring 🌞🌻🍼 and peak bat rescue season due to increased movement, increased camp numbers, baby season is here and more people are out in nature and more likely to see wildlife.

How you can help save lives:

• It's important to report all flying foxes on powerlines, even if deceased. Babies on mothers can survive electrocution for days

• Any bat seen alone during the day away from their roost, low to the ground or on the ground requires assessment and likely rescue as this is unusual behaviour and could be that it is injured or ill, or a baby who cant fly

• When opening outdoor umbrellas, outdoor blinds or caravan awnings be mindful that whilst they have been closed during winter, microbats may have taken advantage of the dark and warm hide out - open slowly and if bats are sited, close and call for advice

• If leaving doors or windows open in the warm months, you may also attract microbats flying in catching insects - in most cases, they will fly back out of the same entrance area, however, if trapped inside or found during the day please call for a rescuer to collect to assess and keep it safe until suitable for release at night

• Turn off outdoor ceiling fans during the night to prevent fan hits by microbats

• Report any deceased bats so cause investigation can be done and potentially prevent future deaths - remember babies may remain live on dead mothers for days and may be hidden under the wing too

• Keep cats inside to prevent them killing wildlife

• NEVER touch or handle a bat, unless vaccinated for Australian Bat Lyssavirus. ABLV is spread via a bite or scratch from an infected bat. Less than 1% of bats are infected with ABLV but the risk should never be taken, as infection is fatal. Any bat suspected to have bitten or scratched someone must be euthanised to be tested so it is always safest to follow the rule of NO TOUCH, NO RISK for all parties

We operate 24/7 so never hesitate to make a call as quick rescue can mean the difference between life or death for that animal.

01/09/2025

Today marks the start of Spring 🌞🌻🍼 and peak bat rescue season due to increased movement, increased camp numbers, baby season is here and more people are out in nature and more likely to see wildlife.

How you can help save lives:

• It's important to report all flying foxes on powerlines, even if deceased. Babies on mothers can survive electrocution for days

• Any bat seen alone during the day away from their roost, low to the ground or on the ground requires assessment and likely rescue as this is unusual behaviour and could be that it is injured or ill, or a baby who cant fly

• When opening outdoor umbrellas, outdoor blinds or caravan awnings be mindful that whilst they have been closed during winter, microbats may have taken advantage of the dark and warm hide out - open slowly and if bats are sited, close and call for advice

• If leaving doors or windows open in the warm months, you may also attract microbats flying in catching insects - in most cases, they will fly back out of the same entrance area, however, if trapped inside or found during the day please call for a rescuer to collect to assess and keep it safe until suitable for release at night

• Turn off outdoor ceiling fans during the night to prevent fan hits by microbats

• Report any deceased bats so cause investigation can be done and potentially prevent future deaths - remember babies may remain live on dead mothers for days and may be hidden under the wing too

• Keep cats inside to prevent them killing wildlife

• NEVER touch or handle a bat, unless vaccinated for Australian Bat Lyssavirus. ABLV is spread via a bite or scratch from an infected bat. Less than 1% of bats are infected with ABLV but the risk should never be taken, as infection is fatal. Any bat suspected to have bitten or scratched someone must be euthanised to be tested so it is always safest to follow the rule of NO TOUCH, NO RISK for all parties

We operate 24/7 so never hesitate to make a call as quick rescue can mean the difference between life or death for that animal.
Our 24/7 rescue hotline is Wildlife Rescue South Coast 0418 427 214. Alternatively use the IFAW app to locate your nearest rescue organisation if outside of our area.

28/08/2025

Caption this
🤣

27/08/2025

⚠️IMPORTANT INFORMATION RE: BAT MORTALITY EVENT AND YOUR SAFETY

Wildlife hospitals in Northern NSW and Southern QLD are currently seeing a high volume of flying fox patients, due to an unusual mortality event.

Flying foxes are being found on the ground barely conscious, severely hypothermic, and minimally responsive. We are working hard to treat as many of these precious pollinators as possible and assist in investigating the situation, and appreciate our community's support.
❗However, it is VITAL that our community ensure human safety first.

We have recently had several flying foxes brought into the hospital by caring members of the public who are not registered, trained wildlife rescuers and are not vaccinated against rabies/lyssavirus. One person was scratched by the bat they were attempting to rescue and had to seek immediate medical attention.
We have set up a restricted access ward for affected bat patients to protect both human and wildlife health.

IF YOU FIND A FLYING FOX OR MICROBAT REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION:
❌DO NOT touch the animal. Keep all pets, children and other people clear of the area and do not attempt to touch, cover or assist the animal.
✔️DO call your local wildlife rescue organisation immediately. A trained, registered and vaccinated carer will be dispatched to your location as quickly as possible to rescue the animal and take it to the nearest wildlife hospital for treatment.

If you, another person or a pet is bitten or scratched by a bat or handle a bat with open wounds on your hands, it is IMPERATIVE that you seek immediate medical attention.🏥 Lyssavirus is fatal if not immediately treated with a course of vaccinations.

We are here for our community- both human and non-human.❤️
Please don't hesitate to call our hospital if you have any questions or concerns regarding the health and welfare of our wildlife.

11/08/2025

Today is 👅 !!!!

08/08/2025

showcases 3 out of the 4 Flying Fox species found in mainland Australia, which we see in care.

Pictured from left to right is the Black Flying Fox, Little Red Flying Fox, Grey Headed Flying Fox.
The 4th species is the Spectacled Flying Fox, which is only found in the north eastern regions of Queensland.

05/08/2025

It was lovely to see some sun today! For the bats and our team.

Did you know that our facility is run solely by dedicated volunteers.
Each day, no matter the weather, volunteers attend to clean aviaries, attend to daily duties, chop and prepare food, feed and care for all the bats in care. Rain, hail or shine, we pack on our raincoats and gumboots and winter woollies to get the work done. From dawn to well in to the night.

01/08/2025

The Ghost Bat, Australia's largest microbat at approximately 150grams, is in the running for the Most Underrated Australian Mammal.
Follow the link to cast your vote and showcase one of the coolest bats in the world.

Move over, roos and emus — this National Science Week, we're looking for the most underrated Australian animal. Meet the contestants, and vote for who you think should win.

31/07/2025

We're missing the Sunshine this week.


Flying foxes, like many animals, require sunlight for vitamin D production. This vitamin is crucial for calcium absorption, which is important for their bone health. 
Flying foxes are primarily active during the night where they fly out for feeding. During the days they spend it resting in their roost high up in the trees soaking up the sun, chatting and communicating with their roost mates and meticulously grooming themselves. Luckily, on rainy days, they are fitted with their own personal raincoats in their wings.

30/07/2025

Great advice from our batty friends down south. People often forget about our tiniest mammals and are unaware of the benefits to having them around.

People often ask us how they can help bats.
Here are a few tips on how everyone can do their bit, starting in your own garden ❤️🦇

27/07/2025

Today is
It is Australia's largest community tree planting and nature care event, encouraging people to get involved in environmental activities. 

Special shout out to our flying foxes who can fly out up to 50km each night dispersing seeds and pollinating our important native eucalypts, supporting a healthy ecosystem and providing food and shelter for many other native animals, such as our Koalas.
No Me, No Tree