Bat Rescue SA Inc - Adelaide Bat Chat

08/01/2025

Please help if you can

Flying foxes are in crisis — and that means entire ecosystems are under threat.

07/01/2025

Thank you to for sharing such a powerful image and words.

“An endangered spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) embarked on her last night foraging and pollinating our forests. Not seeing this barbed wire fence in the dark, she has flown into it and become severely entangled. Here she stayed until finally succumbing to heat, dehydration and exposure. I have rescued so many flying foxes off barbed wire and arrived too late for so many more. Barbed wire fencing is antiquated and so horrifically cruel to our wildlife. Removing barbed wire is the priority but just making it visible to wildlife significantly reduces or eliminates entanglements.”

06/01/2025

This is really interesting information if you are interested in flying foxes. Explained really well.

A common misconception about flying-foxes is that they are 'resident' to their roost - that is, some mistakenly believe the flying-foxes they see in a roost, have been there/will be there, for the entire life of the bat.

This is incorrect - rather, the flying-foxes are continuously turning-over, similar to how a motel operates.

Flying-fox roosts naturally ebb-and-flow in size, due to food availability, weather, climate, breeding season, predator abundance, habitat loss, natural disasters - and more!

When resources are abundant in a given area (e.g. following good rain that brings mass-blooming of the gum trees), visiting flying-foxes may stick around a little longer to enjoy the season. This results in a natural 'swell' of the roosts in that area.

This is where the 'residential roost' misconception can turn harmful - as people may mistake natural swells to have been caused by the bats reproducing. This then feeds into the myth that bats are quick to reproduce (couldn't be further from the truth), or worse, people may call for a cull (which is not only harmful, but is also ineffective).

The 'residential roost' misconception also underpins the belief that roosts can just 'be relocated' with small effort.
Consider; one may scare the bats on a given day, but what about the bats from the past days/weeks/years that are currently elsewhere, that have already memorised that roost location? They will eventually return in the following days, weeks, or years, naïve to the events that happened while they were gone.

So, how do we tackle the 'residential roost' misconception?

By talking about it!

I know, I sound like a broken record - but its true! Talking about flying-foxes and their ecology, improves community awareness and can help prevent inappropriate management decisions from being made.

--
I might've said it before but I'll say it again - if you would like a digital copy of any of my works to help with education, please reach out! I'm more than happy to share files for free to support wildlife groups, educators, governments, industry etc. if its going toward bat conservation in one way or another :)

--

Source:
- Welbergen, J.A., Meade, J., Field, H. et al. Extreme mobility of the world’s largest flying mammals creates key challenges for management and conservation. BMC Biol 18, 101 (2020).
- Roberts Billie J., Mo Matthew, Roache Mike, Eby Peggy (2020) Review of dispersal attempts at flying-fox camps in Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 68, 254-272.

06/01/2025

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/01/05/study-underway-to-learn-if-bats-can-be-used-as-agricultural-tool/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR077Ux-xQr3JnFdS6HjnqIhaQNu4AKn1C5JD52s0SNDRuOAjPixEUzA23c_aem_LvERqm4dad1MiQycrBcK-A

Researchers are studying whether the critically threatened pekapeka-tou-roa / long-tailed bat can be used as pest control on rural properties.

03/01/2025

One of the little bats in our care getting a check up from the amazing vets at Para Hills Veterinary Clinic
This little guy has had several issues but is slowly improving. We couldn’t do what we do without the support from all the staff at this clinic.
Thankyou Dr Cathy and Tessa for checking over our little man today.
The staff there are all amazing and very caring. We are lucky that so many of the staff there are vaccinated to help with the bats.
We urge other vet clinics especially in the Southern areas to take their lead and think about getting staff vaccinated to help with protecting a keystone species now listed as Vulnerable.

If you find a bat in trouble please call Bat Rescue SA on 0475132093
Do not handle the bat.
All our rescuers are fully trained and vaccinated to handle bats.
If you would like to make a donation to help our volunteers care for the bats coming in for care we would appreciate it.
Donations can be made by Pay Pal
[email protected]
Or bank deposit, please message for account details to donate.

Thankyou

03/01/2025

Baileys first day of being a big boy and sleeping on the clothes airer. Normally by now most of our babies are ready for crèche.
This weekend our first group will enter the crèche aviary but we still have young ones coming in not due to enter crèche for another 8-9 weeks!!!!!

If you find a bat in trouble please call Bat Rescue SA on 0475132093
Do not handle the bat.
All our rescuers are fully trained and vaccinated to handle bats.
If you would like to make a donation to help our volunteers care for the bats coming in for care we would appreciate it.
Donations can be made by Pay Pal
[email protected]
Or bank deposit, please message for account details to donate.

Thankyou

02/01/2025

Would you believe me if I told you this little bat can live up to 22 years old!?
Weighing less than a double-A battery, the Southern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus orianae bassanii) is a critically endangered insectivorous bat found in SA and VIC.

Impacted by land clearing of foraging habitat, human disturbance to roosting caves, feral animal predation (cats & foxes) and wind turbines, the Southern Bent-wing Bat’s population has decreased by an estimated 67% since the mid-1990s. It was first listed as ‘critically endangered’ in 2007, and has remained so in its recent 2021 review.

So how can *you* back this bat?

1. As always, public awareness is key! Share posts and talk about the Southern bent-wing bat, and ways to conserve it.
• Due to its dependence on limited limestone caves, this bat is highly susceptible to human disturbance. Sadly, deliberate vandalism of roosts is a current and known threat (one example being from Warrnambool VIC, where the surrounding vegetation of a maternity site was set alight, and large logs were thrown into the cave entrances). Improving public awareness of these bats and their importance, helps protect these caves and may minimise vandalism.

1. If you live along the south coast- plant locally-native plants to boost your local population of native invertebrates; bat food!
• Aim to plant a diversity of locally native species, of different growth forms if possible- I.e. native grasses, ground cover species, forbs, shrubs, and trees.
• If you aren’t able to do this on your own property, consider volunteer with your local landcare group, school or similar organisations working to revegetate the coastline.

02/01/2025

Endangered spectacled flying foxes and vulnerable grey-headed flying foxes are ‘astonishing’ animals but misinformation is rife

01/01/2025

Guardians of the night take center stage, honoring bats and their vital role in our ecosystem. 🦇🌌

01/01/2025

Meet Midnight (left), found last night pretty much on the stroke of midnight, only 3 weeks old. She will be company for Bailey (right). We are still getting in quite young babies. Our season started later and is going on longer.

If you find a bat in trouble please call Bat Rescue SA on 0475132093 . We are here to help 24/7.
Do not handle the bat.
All our rescuers are fully trained and vaccinated to handle bats.
If you would like to make a donation to help our volunteers care for the bats coming in for care we would appreciate it.
Donations can be made by Pay Pal
[email protected]
Or bank deposit, please message for account details to donate.

Thankyou

29/12/2024

It’s been a very busy few days with rescues.
We have had no luck with sightings of the bat in Regency Park. Such a sad outcome. However here are a few of the lucky ones saved this weekend.

If you find a bat in trouble please call Bat Rescue SA on 0475132093
Do not handle the bat.
All our rescuers are fully trained and vaccinated to handle bats.
If you would like to make a donation to help our volunteers care for the bats coming in for care we would appreciate it.
Donations can be made by Pay Pal. If you find a bat in trouble please call Bat Rescue SA on 0475132093
Do not handle the bat.
All our rescuers are fully trained and vaccinated to handle bats.
If you would like to make a donation to help our volunteers care for the bats coming in for care we would appreciate it.
Donations can be made by Pay Pal
[email protected]
Thankyou

28/12/2024

Very wise words. Thankyou Karly Fowler mixed arts

Large Old World fruit bats (which includes flying-foxes) are the world’s most threatened type of bat, with a whopping 71% of remaining species listed as threatened by extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - and this percentage rises if you include location-specific listings.

Australia is no exception, with three of our five Aussie flying-fox species (60%) listed as threatened by extinction.

Flying-foxes provide long distance pollination and seed dispersal services which are key to the health and resilience of numerous ecosystems - making flying-foxes ‘keystone species’.
Not only this, flying-foxes are also a valuable prey item for many charismatic Australian predators, such as eagles, owls, pythons, and even crocodiles.

The list goes on, but the key message to remember is:
Conserve our bats = conserve our environment.

So, what can *you* do in 2025 to back our bats?

1) Engage and share educational and bat-positive information.
- The more people who learn about bats and their importance, the more people who will want to conserve them.

2) Be conscious of misinformation and sensationalist headlines - and call out bad journalism.
- Decades of being associated with fear and horror (e.g. vampires), under-representation as native wildlife, and misinformation about perceived health risks, means our bats are often the target for fear-based journalism. This drives public fear and misunderstanding of bats, and can significantly harm conservation efforts and bat populations.

3) Support organisations that help conserve bats (this comes in many forms! I.e. rescuers, carers, veterinary practices, educational organisations, research, etc.)

- Monetary donations directly to the organisation is the best way to ensure the funds will be spent exactly on what is critical for the org at that time.
- On a budget? Most organisations that rescue, rehabilitate and release bats are dependent on volunteers - and are always seeking extra hands to help bats in need. Volunteering can be in field (e.g. front line rescue of bats, chopping fruit, caring for bats), or administrative (taking shifts on a rescue phone, helping with fundraising & educational events, etc).

—
Spectacled flying-fox, Pteropus conspicillatus
Drawn with Procreate on iPad

28/12/2024

We require help from the public in the Regency Park area particularly around Tikalara St to help look for an injured flying fox.
Today we were called to remove a flying fox caught on barbed wire in that street. Unfortunately someone got there first and from what we understand, they got the bat out but it flew away with some of the barbed wire in its foot. Keep your eyes peeled but DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CATCH. Call us immediately.
It’s vital we try and find this bat, barbed wire injuries can take up to two weeks to know if there will be membrane die back.
Bat Rescue SA have special tools to remove the barbs without cutting the barb and risking it flying off with barbs still intact. We have extensive training in barbed wire rescues and all our rescuers carry these tools. This bat if not found soon will be at risk of dying from infection.
If you are in this area and find a bat on on its own please please call Bat Rescue South Australia on 0475132093

27/12/2024

25/12/2024

Pretty in pink. I don’t think Abbie could get any cuter on Christmas Day.
Bat Rescue SA is available 24/7 all over the Christmas break. We never close
Found a bat in trouble please call us on
0475132093

24/12/2024

24/12/2024

Bat Rescue South Australia will be on call all over the Christmas/New Year period. We are on call 24/7. We are volunteers and do have rescuers on standby. We never close. Please leave a message if you don’t get through as we may be busy on another call. We will call you back.
BAT RESCUE SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC - 0475132093