release

Late Last Night

Love the wing shape in this photo of an eastern red pup (17-79) brought to us by Adam Warren from Silver Dale in SW Austinbat rescue

Lots of action in the flight cage last night!austin bat rescue rehabilitation

This bat is curling up on a moth it just caught, rolling it into its tail membrane and kicking it to subdue and eat it.  All of this done while flying and scarcely missing a beat.

A closeup of that shot

Adam’s bat showing his chops

Pretty wing conformation on this tri-colored bat.

Here’s another bat curling up on a moth.  Lots of action under the blacklight!

This Barred Owl juvy was raised nearby and we’re trying to run him off.  Way easier said than done.

Finally got him to go, but grudgingly and he’ll probably be back before the night is through.  At least the pups will recognize a predator the next time they see one.  For many bat pups, the firs time they see an owl is the last time they see anything, so we’re glad ours get another chance.

In the morning, pups were scattered all over the place, this one right out in the open.  He is the first of Laurie’s pups to fly off on his own.  The mum flew off with the others still on her.  We found her and reunited them so they could snuggle through the day.

These pups are trying to look like just another dead leaf.

Here’s Laurie’s mum with her pups on her, but with Alvaro and Michelle trying to adopt her.  We got them all straightened out, reunited the family, fed and watered all for the day.  What a night!

Posted on , updated on by The Refuge

Southern yellow

Our 100th intake of the year is this beautiful southern yellow pup!
We distinguish southerns by their mossy, wooly, olive colored fur.
Northerns are more “Baby Huey” like, with shorter, yellowish fur.

This pup has just started eating whole mealworms.
He’s also stretching his wings and doing pushups.

He’ll be flying soon!

Posted on , updated on by The Refuge

39 intakes 2 weeks!

We just took in our 103rd bat of the year, 39 of which came to us in the last 2 weeks.
June is always crazy around here and this year is no exception.
We’ve had bats of seven species this month; northern yellows, southern yellows, Seminoles, eastern reds, free-tails, velifers, and evening bats.

It’s crazy, exhausting, and exhilarating work.  But what a priviledge and an honor to be able to give these pups a second chance at life.

Reds 17-89

 

 

Posted on , updated on by The Refuge

Dripping reds

This red bat family was found grounded in the middle of a side-street in Dripping Springs.  The young single-mum was a pup herself just last summer and she may have been struggling to feed and manage her young family.  She was emaciated, and was so lucky that Jacque spotted her before the grackles or bluejays did.  Nice save Jacque!  She and the pups have been rehydrated and their bellies filled and are now having a snooze at the top of the aviary.  She knows she and her pups are safe for now.

That night the mum flew and the pups watched her for a while, then the bigger pup joined her.  The little pup felt pretty lonesome and after a while took her very first flight.  Both pups negotiated all the other flying bats and landed successfully at the top of the cage.  By morning they had found mum and the whole family was snoozing together once it got light.
bat rescue rehabilitation

Littlest pup after first flight!

Older pup

Pups have to watch out for the other flyers

bat rehabilitation rescue austin

Waiting for mum to return

austin bat rehabilitation rescue

The next morning mum roosted in the sun, we had to shade them

austin bat rehabilitation rescue

Posted on , updated on by The Refuge

It’s in North Texas …. the fungus that causes White-nosed Syndrome

We’re obviously devastated by the news that the fungus that causes WNS has arrived in Texas.  We, like everyone else here, had hoped for a little more time, but we knew it was coming.  Although this is just the fungus, not yet the disease, we are nonetheless tweaking our rehabilitation protocols and stand ready to collaborate with state and federal agencies, and other Texas bat rehabilitators in monitoring and providing supportive care for Texas bats.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20170323c&nrtype=all&nrspan=2017&nrsearch=

 

austin bat Texas bats WNS

Posted on , updated on by The Refuge

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

Posted on , updated on by The Refuge

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!

Posted on , updated on by The Refuge

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

Posted on , updated on by The Refuge

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

Posted on , updated on by The Refuge