This eastern red pup is one of the four pups that Laurie rescued. He was found with his mum on the ground near their house. They would all have died without her taking time from her busy day to care for this family in need. Thanks so much Laurie!
Here one of the boys catches a moth in his tail membrane. They are growing up and going from little fluff balls to bad-ass bug killing predators.
This eastern red pup is working on her flight skills, hoping to become as accomplished as the mum in the background.
Many pups at this time of year simply flutter-putter around in a straight line as they circle the cage.
They need to emulate the adults amazing aerodynamics to successfully avoid predators upon release.
A lovely Cave myotis (Myotis velifer) – soon to be released!
Andrea found Frito in an open stairwell, hiding from the grackles that were stalking him like a pack of velociraptors.
She called us and watched over him until we arrived, saving him from a tragic end.
He was not injured, just a little disoriented and is eating and flying well in the aviary.
Soon to be released. Nice work Andrea!
These Eastern red bat pups find their mum each morning, even though only two are still nursing. Orphan Michelle on top right has adopted the family!
In the wild, when pups start wrestling , as pups will, birds (especially grackles and bluejays) take notice and attack them. The mum is forced to fly off with all those heavy pups clinging to her. People find the exhausted mum and her pups in a ball and bring them to us. We give the pups a chance grow into self-sufficient young adults, hunting and drinking on the wing, before release, usually with a few weeks. What a privilege to get to share a bond with these amazing creatures, before they resume their wild and free lives!
Love this link from Bat Conservation Trust about How to Contain a Bat.
But here in Central Texas, call our Austin Bat Refuge Hotline at 512-695-4116 or 512-799-8847
http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/containingabat.html
Catching prey is only half the battle! Bats still have to curl & kick to subdue their catch while flying. This eastern red male still needs to refine his technique!
It took forever to find this guy tucked against the ridge pole against the bright sky.
Glad we found you pup!
Sweet, early (8:33 pm) emergence at Congress Avenue Bridge last night.
Come visit us at the Austin Bat Refuge table on Friday nights this summer!
This is an eastern red bat mum that has four nursing pups. (Yes, it’s the bat you brought us Laurie, we found another pup tucked under her wing!) She flies very well, as do two of her pups, the other two are not yet volant, but they all find each other the next morning. She is doing a great job raising these pups and we’re happy to help her get over that little glitch that found her grounded.
Eastern reds have four nipples. Both nipples on her left side are visible in this photo and it’s apparent that the lower one is offset, to the outside, from the midline of her chest. That offset allows all four pups to fit symmetrically so that all can nurse without overlapping. Overlapping would cause more jostling for position, attracting attention from predators, and so has been evolutionarily eliminated.
