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Bats
Living with Bats
There are many different bats that fall into two groups:
Megabats and Microbats.
Megabats include the flying-foxes and blossom bats which are fruit and nectar feeding animals.
Microbats include the carnivorous Ghost bat and all the insectivorous bats.
Bats are the only mammal capable of sustained flight.
Bats & Barbwire
Barbed wire is a major contributing factor in the injury and death of flying foxes in Darwin and rural areas.
Many fruit bats descend close to the ground when flying between food trees and sometimes this means manoeuvring over obstacles such as fences. Fruit bats do not use echo-location to find prey or obstacles. They rely solely on vision and do not recognise barbed wire for the danger it represents.
When a bat hits a strand of barbed wire the barbs tear into and stretch the wing membrane so that the bat can't simply pull itself free.
Most bats panic and flap around wildly and become entangled further and cause much greater damage. They also damage their mouths biting the barbs.
Tying bright ribbons on the fence will deter the bats and the use of barbed wire should be avoided whenever possible.
Check the surrounding area for young if you find an injured or dead mother, as they are known to eject young in this situation.
Injured or Orphaned bat
If you find an injured or orphaned bat phone Wildlife Rescue on 0409 090 840 or Wildcare on 8988 6121.
Do not handle
If you are scratched or bitten by a bat seek medical attention immediately.
All bats, as are all native wildlife, are protected under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2000. Thus it is illegal to trap, kill or harm them in any way.
Bats inside the house
Avoid handling.
Microbats can sometimes find their way into a house. Typically they may be found during daylight hours in the fold of a curtain, in or behind a cupboard, or anywhere where they can curl up and hide. As nocturnal feeders they sleep during the day and are active at night.
The best approach is to leave the windows and doors open so they can escape of their own volition and without human interference just after sunset. Isolate the room from the rest of the house and from domestic pets or children.
Leave the internal lights off and turn on an exterior light if possible as this will attract insects and hopefully thus attract the 'visitor' outside to feed.
Sometimes it isn't possible to leave the microbat where it is. Call a wildlife rescue service who can relocate the animal or take a small towel and scoop the microbat gently up into it then place the whole bundle into a pillow case.
The top of the pillow case needs to be securely tied off with a rubber band or piece of string.
This can then be hung in a cool dark place, such as a wardrobe. A little before sunset the pillow case can be opened up outside and then hung by the base or pegged in a tree or on a railing to allow the microbat to escape.