Congress Avenue Bridge

D-Day pup

This pup (D-Day) found himself on the wrong side of Congress Avenue Bridge on June 6th.  Dianne, on her rebirth day, was called by a worried tourist and went down and belly crawled under the railing to rescue him.  He probably crawled out  of his crevice looking for a mum that got picked off by a predator.  He was born a little early (average date of birth for free-tails is June 10th and he was likely born in late May) but lots of pups were 2-3 weeks early this year.  We’ll do our best for this little guy and hopefully release him back at the bridge once he’s graduated from ABR Flight School!

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Renee’s pup

Renee found this bat on 11Mar2017 near her front porch in the rain, weak and not moving.  We hand fed him for eight days to build up his strength and last night he took his first few flights in the aviary.  He was out of practice and not real strong that night, but tonight he did much better, even took a few drinks on the wing!  He should be ready to go soon!

Austin bat rescue refuge rehabilitation

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Texas Night Sky Festival 2017

We had a blast at the Texas Night Sky Festival on Saturday March 18th.
We met so many people and introduced them all to Buffy, Gabe, Freida, and Nikita.
It was so much fun to see all those smiling faces.
Thanks Kyndal Irwin for spending the last day of SXSW with us out in Dripping Springs!
You were so great with all those kids!  We’re proud to know you!

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Video of the Amplify Assembly – our PSA

We are so happy to be a part of the wonderful Austin non-profit community!
Here is a great overview of all the creative organizations making a difference in the Austin area.
And our PSA by bat caregiver Kyndal Irwin is the second one, at the 10 minute mark of this 2 hour video, just before Rebecca Campbell with the Austin Film Society!

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Soft Release – Mexican free-tailed bat

This little freebie male is one of 8 intakes this week and he’s been showing great flight skills in the aviary. We finally found him roosting with Taz the cave myotis and fed him full with bugs. This video shows him heading up into the bat box for soft-release. There is backup food and water and even lots of company with the wild freetails that have taken to the box this spring.
So go with God little bat; you were lots of fun!  Live and long and happy life!

free-tailed bat austin bat

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The free-tailed bats are back in Austin!

Even with the Doppler radar out of commission, we know the free-tails are back because the phone’s been ringing off the hook all week! First-year pups returning from Mexico are ending up in unexpected places. This cutie was rescued from a downtown Austin office ceiling by Chantal. He’s fine, just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Check out those feet! He’s got whiskers between his toes and brushes on the sides.

Talk about bats getting in unexpected places, we even have some in our bat box!  We thought it would never happen!  This is the first time we’ve had bats since it was put up five years ago!  They are super fast coming out of the box; this photo just barely caught one leaving.
bat from bat house

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Our first Amplify Austin a big success!

Thank you donors! Our first Amplify Austin campaign was a big success! Thanks so much to all those who exemplified the “I Live Here, I Give Here” spirit, especially Individual Fundraiser Kyndal Irwin. Together we provided half a year’s food for Austin’s bats in need.

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Thanks to all our 2017 Bat Angels:
Bridget Robinson, Margret Hill, Fabiola Campos, Amanda Irwin, Nancy Ballard, Dean Wolf, Jennifer Whale, Amber Cho, Kate Asaff, Jodi Bade, Jenny Holt, Shelley Hodges, Theresa Waller, Christine Miller, Susan Brooks, Matthew Putzi, Katie Fike, Cindy Bogard, Laura Rayburn, Martin Selbrede, Rebecca Neel, Anne Zabolio, Monica Donner, Shanna Bogaty, Lauren Suspensky,  Betty Thoene, Ellie Watson, Carmen Garcia, Rory Hertzfeld, Michele Durovec, Dixie Davis, Deborah Daues, Christie Gardner, Robbie Nelson, Debbie Zent, Steve Reddick, Stephanie McCurley, and you seven anonymous secret bat admirers.
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Cold-stunned bats Released!

The strongest cold front in years blew through last week and bats in Austin suffered through the cold and windy nights.  Many fell, cold-stunned out of their roosts.  But kind-hearted people safely contained some and brought them to us for thawing, some bats every day for a week!  We filled their bellies with tasty mealworms and had the pleasure of sharing some Holiday spirit with them.   And last night it was finally warm enough to release many of them.
This little guy is your bat Jocelyn.  He’s a great bat and he would have died if you hadn’t cared enough to rescue him.  Thank You!
And thanks to Christie, Christina, Giselle, and Natalie stopping and taking the time to care for those bats you saved.  You are Heroes!

austin bat rescue release

Here’s Natalie’s bat flying off into the night to join the few thousand others overwintering under the Congress Avenue Bridge.
austin bat rescue release

 

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Remember the little ones this Holiday Season!

Dear Bat Friends,
Please remember the little ones as we count our blessings.
Donate Now! to help Gabe the red bat and pups like this free-tailed baby.

eastern red bat austin bataustin bat Congress Avenue Bridge

As we enter the holiday season, the world celebrates community, supporting the causes that make the world a better place for all its inhabitants.  In our first year, Austin Bat Refuge has already created a center of gravity, attracting donations and a small core of young interns, many or whom will go on to careers in wildlife work.  In this season of giving, we ask you to get involved and support Austin Bat Refuge, the only organization in Central Texas caring exclusively for orphaned, injured, and displaced bats.

Your kind donation is critical to bats, our fascinating friends and allies.
Donate Here to help these wonderful, misunderstood beings.
Or write a check and mail to:
Austin Bat Refuge
P.O. Box 49902
Austin, TX 78765

Here are other ways you can show your support:
Sign up for our Newsletter:
Volunteer:
Donate Items:
and yes, as many of you have done, even
Rescue a Bat in Trouble

or simply:
Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Those of you who have brought us an injured bat may have received the following note from us, thanking you for your efforts.  We’ll include it here for those of you landing here from social media:

Dear Bat Friend,

Thank you for your kindness in taking the time to rescue the bat you brought to us; we are in awe of the people who have gone so far out of their daily routine to help an animal in trouble.

We hope that you found it a meaningful experience. It meant a great deal to the bat you rescued, and to us; you are part of an ever-growing group of people who care for an animal that many find, at best, unlovable.

Attempting to rescue a bat can seem frightening for people who encounter them, displaced or injured, around their homes or workplaces, and you may even have been ridiculed by those who don’t understand that bats are worthy of care. But you know how rewarding it can be to make the effort to help wildlife.

If it is possible for you to donate, we ask for your financial assistance so that we can continue to serve as a refuge for the injured and orphaned bats that are brought to us by caring people like you.

Your donation will help save the lives of many more little bats in trouble, like the one you saved.
Please Donate Here

And please become a part of our team by joining our Bat Pack!

austin bat Austin Bat Refuge eastern red bat  austin bat
austin bat free-tailed bat Congress Avenue Bridge   austin bat

Austin Bat Refuge cares for these bats in a setting that minimizes their stress and fear.  Once critical care has stabilized them, they recover in a natural outdoor setting prior to release.  If non-releasable, they live a high quality of life with us in the bat gardens or in spacious indoor habitats with plenty of enrichment. Our many visitors have hearts and minds changed by the experience of seeing bats as we care for them. And seeing them in a natural setting is an educational opportunity leveraged by our social media that serves to counter eons of negative myths about bats.

We have cared for close to 750 bats in recent years (139 so far this year), with the majority of them being released back into the wild. If they make it through the first few days, we have a success rate of approximately 86% (which includes those non-releasable individuals living out their lives in our refuge).

Your tax-deductible donation to Austin Bat Refuge will be deeply appreciated, and promptly acknowledged with a document for your tax deduction.  We are an all-volunteer, state-permitted 501(c)3 NON-PROFIT organization and receive no government funding.  Our costs (not counting volunteer time) can be under $20 for a healthy, quickly-released bat to $200 or more for a bat with a broken bone. Bats that live out their lives in our refuge incur ongoing costs to keep them healthy and well fed.

It is our privilege to care for these orphaned, injured and displaced bats, and your support will give us the ability to do more. Please give us and them a helping hand by mailing a check to our P.O. Box address or contributing to Austin Bat Refuge at this link: Donations

ANY DONATION AMOUNT IS APPRECIATED! And if you can’t give money, please consider donations of volunteer time or items on our Wish List

Thanks so much for caring about these noble, valiant, and amazing flying mammals.

And do please become a part of our team by joining our Bat Pack! 

You’ll get our ABR Newsletter with notices for our springtime Bat Walks!

Thanks so much,

Lee Di (3)

Lee Mackenzie
512-695-4116
leemack@austinbatrefuge.org

Dianne Odegard
512-799-8847
Dianne@austinbatrefuge.org

Austin Bat Refuge
https://austinbatrefuge.org

 

 

Posted on , updated on by The Refuge