free-tailed bat

Free-tail release

This bat had fallen into a back-porch bucket during all the rains last week.  She managed to tread water ’till morning, when Matt & Christina found her and rescued her.  We made sure her thumb claws were not damaged (luckily it was a plastic bucket), and then brought her out to the flight cage to make sure she could sustain flight.  We tried a non-toxic tempura paint to ID her (it’s messy if they struggle and swat the paint brush) and you can still see a hint of red on her left ear as she is released back into the wild.  Good bat, nice knowing you!

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Elise’s pup

Elise found this pup on her doormat back of 18 July 2016 and, being the kind-hearted person she is, took the time to carefully contain the pup in a box (without touching it!) and call us.  He was a very young juvenile who seemed to have let go of his bridge roost before he was quite ready.  After weeks of blended mealworm dinners he was finally doing the wing stretches and one-arm pushups that let us know he’s ready to try again.  So last night we brought him out to the aviary and after just a little encouragement, he took off and flutter-puttered all around the cage till we lost track of him in the darkness.
It’s really surprising just how slow the pups are when they first take flight.  They have a puppy-like appearance with their little ears sticking straight up and a slightly alarmed expression on their faces.  It’s so great to see them slowly gain confidence and soon start to shred the enclosure!
Thanks Elise!  You’re simple act of kindness meant a lot to us, but it meant the world to this pup.

mexican free-tailed bat pup

Elise’s pup

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The Face

Hours old new-born Mexican free-tailed bat pup.

The face that gets hundreds of millions of Central Texas mums out of the roost each evening to go to work in the agricultural fields.

Check out that cute little nursing nose; like all mammals, makes it easier to nurse and makes the pups even more irresistable.

newborn Tabr use this one

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Sunrise service work – Happy Easter!

Easter Bat – 911

First thing this morning we got a call from the Austin Police Department. Our first reaction? We didn’t do it! Then they said “We have a bat in the main building downtown, can Dianne come and help us?” So, ready to protect and to serve, we saved the APD from this bat. She sure does seem ferocious!

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Releasing a Bat

I just had an amazing experience releasing a rehabilitated bat. They are so tiny! She was eager to join the party at Congress Bridge. Thanks Lee and Dianne. Your passion and love for bats is inspiring. Thank you for the great service you give to the Austin community and especially the bats!

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Posted on , updated on by The Refuge