OK Bat Rehab

14/07/2024

These 8 beautiful bat pups were released last week, and are wild and free! Many thanks to Joe and his family for welcoming them back to their home!

29/06/2024

An excellent paper on how our migratory bats perceive wind energy facilities has been nicely captured in a recent paper. Scale is important. From several kilometres away - bats may see the lights on the tops of the towers - which could be attractive to them. Closer, bats might see the turbine towers and perceive them as "big trees on the landscape" which is important as bats are mating on their southward journey. Part of their mating behaviour is to play "chase" as they circle around big tall trees (you can see where this is headed - it is a problem). At very close proximity to the turbines, the combination of the turbulence from the wind currents generated behind the turbines can cause bats to get confused, light coloured towers may look like a "lit space" where they can fly to escape - which could lead bats to fly towards the danger. This paper is a great piece of work that evaluates what wind energy facilities represent to bats on the landscape. Further work is needed to test these scenarios and look at ways to mitigate.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mam.12340

29/06/2024

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a proposal to list the tricolored bat as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The species faces extinction due primarily to the range-wide impacts of white-nose syndrome, a deadly disease affecting cave-dwelling bats across the contine...

25/06/2024

12/06/2024

New Big Brown Bat pup Ronald came to us from Sapulpa Animal Shelter. Thanks to Destiny at the shelter for arranging transport and BIG thanks to all the amazing transporters who take the time to give these babies a ride! So appreciate all of you wonderful people!

***Never handle bats barehanded unless you are vaccinated for Rabies. Babies are handled barehanded by trained and vaccinated rehabbers for better control.

12/06/2024

Not the best photo, but the prettiest Eastern Red mama and pups ❤️

***Bats should never be handles barehanded unless you are trained and vaccinated

12/06/2024

Eastern Red pup Oliver had a rough start, but doing much better!

***Never handle bats barehanded unless you are trained and vaccinated for Rabies

12/06/2024

Baby Josh, trying his first whole mealworm. He likes the guts, but not too sure about the crunchy bits!

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08/06/2024

It's pup season! Most of these pups were kindly brought in by Joe, on two separate occasions. His family has a colony of Big Brown Bats that is outgrowing the shutter they live behind. Joe quickly built them a beautiful new bat house so they will have more room and ventilation for the intense OK summer heat. Joe is a bat hero! Thanks Joe, for all you've done for them!

***Please remember never to handle bats barehanded unless you are vaccinated for Rabies.

24/05/2024

Update! Peggy the Evening Bat was released May 7! She was very pregnant, but was able to beef up her flying skills with her new physique before heading out, and did just fine!

30/04/2024

Tiffany found "Bat Girl" Felicity at work. Lucky for this little girl! She has some skin issues that will take time to recover from, and needs to gain weight, but she should be ready to go in a few weeks ❤️🦇❤️

30/04/2024

Mo is free!

29/04/2024

29/04/2024

BAT FACT FRIDAY!
When a feeding bat bears down on an insect, it emits echolocation pulses faster and closer together creating what is called a feeding buzz. Depending on the species, this can be up to 250 pulses in one second.

27/04/2024

Our Peggy is feeling much better! Love her sweet face and soulful eyes ❤️🦇❤️

25/04/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/5i2JdKrnsA3TBrAA/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Lawns are growing like crazy this time of year and the taller the grass gets, the harder it is to notice downed bats or other wildlife.

Bats can end up grounded for many reasons, such as an injury, or perhaps they were chased out of a tree by a crow or blue jay. They can even end up grounded in your yard where they may be stuck! A mother tree roosting bat will try to protect her babies by spreading her wings over them like in the photo below. Some bats have a very hard time taking flight from off the ground, or they may be injured or exhausted. All of these things make it impossible for a bat to get away from danger such as pets, other wild animals, or worse, a lawn mower!

During these warm months, please check your yard before mowing or doing yard work for any downed bats. If you do find a bat do not attempt to touch it with your bare hands! Please call Bat World Sanctuary at 940-325-3404 for further instructions and we will help you find a rescuer in your area!

23/04/2024

Austin found sweet little Peggy in downtown OKC where he works. She is not feeling her best, but doesn't seem to have any injuries, so will hopefully make a full recovery with some time and TLC ❤️🦇❤️
She is also named for one of my dear friends 🥰

17/04/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/hkGvptu9n9jaZCsg/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Happy Bat Appreciation Day! 🦇

13/04/2024

Beautiful Bella was lucky to have Jonah come to her rescue. She found her way into a local car dealership, and unfortunately flew into a window. She will stay a while to rest and recover, and gain a little weight.

09/04/2024

Sweet little Maureen (Mo) is named after one of my best friends in the whole world, and she is sweet and beautiful, just like her namesake! She was in a bit of trouble at a local Five Below, and Brooklyn, J, and Gabriel got her the help she needed. She is looking and feeling a little better this morning after warm electrolytes and a lot of TLC.
❤️Thanks, Mo for your kind and generous donation for your little namesake 🥰🦇

29/03/2024

These beautiful bats are wild and free again!

19/03/2024

Little Bruce has been eating a lot and working hard to get ready for release with his new friends. After a big dinner, he decided to take a nap on my top ❤️🦇❤️

07/03/2024

This is Ginny. She is adorable.

04/03/2024

Bruce update: His before and after pics. He has a lot of weight to gain, but getting bettter every day. He is the sweetest boy ❤️🦇❤️

29/02/2024

Some recent pics of Fen (just finished dinner), Fleur, Ginny, and Luna.

29/02/2024

Thanks to very kind Jacqueline for helping rescue this sweet boy today! His name is Bruce 😉 He was dehydrated and very thin, but hopefully he will be feeling much better soon ❤️🦇❤️

05/02/2024

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wild-bats-can-recognize-a-phones-ringtone-four-years-later-180980314/?fbclid=IwAR0cwB7YNUeOTCKUS_LIrMyI4LhW9jFC2hSsfRFKJHuu8nZ7MS1v6mNEuPs_aem_AVS29tvhtddXZeKxVyFvpHvMEkhWwPxkqzwB9r9SXNClnlwJvxEnV4FOTfZXWKPrcSc

The findings could help researchers understand more about the advantages and disadvantages of long-term memory in animals

05/02/2024

Introducing Fenrir (Fen), Luna, and Fleur. Just got these cuties transferred from Wildcare this weekend. They are all in good health and just need to overwinter. They will stay until it's warmer and bugs are plentiful again in Spring.

11/01/2024

Will Rogers Gardens in OKC will be having a Bat House Building Class on Saturday Feb 10 from
12-2pm. I will do a short talk, then you will assemble a 4 chamber bat house. Price is $55
Ready-made, a house this size would be over $150. Space is limited to 15, so sign up now if you're interested!

Bats, what amazing mammals! These insect eating miracles live right here in Oklahoma City and eliminate mosquitos by the thousands nightly! If you are wanting to build a bat house and learn more about these night friends we will have kits made for those that attend. Suzanne Govett, local Bat rehabil...