I need help with a bat......

You will need:

• A box with holes punched in the lid. the best box to use is a shoe box, however a container of equivalent size is just as good.
• A cloth or teatowel - this gives the bat somewhere to hide
• A plastic milk bottle cap

Please note: the box must NOT have any holes around the sides or anywhere that are the size of your little finger. if you can get your little finger in a hole then the hole is big enough to allow bat to escape. Bats can sqeeze through very small spaces so ensure the container is secure.

If a bat is flying indoors at night it has probably, accidentally entered your home while chasing a moth or a midge and got itself lost. If the weather is good, open windows, remove any obstructions from infron of the windows( i.e., open curtains or blinds fully, move net curtains aside etc) switch off lights, close other exits to the room and the bat should find his way out. In my experience this method can take approximately 40 miutes, however, it can take a couple of hours so you may want to check the room after an hour or so.

DO NOT release a bat during the winter months or if outside temperature is lower than 5° C. in these cases, bats should be treated as if they are flying during the day and contained following the guideliness below.

If the bat is flying in your home during the day, it needs to be contained before releasing in the evening. Bats found during the day probably need help. Wait until it lands before trying to contain it following the guidelines below.

And for both scenarios above, please call us - Surrey Bat Rescue 07910108525 - if you need further assistance or if you are unsure.

Before attempting to contain a bat, please ensure you are wearing gloves; you are very unlikely to be scratched or bitten, however, bats are wild animals. Wearing gloves ensures that you are even more  unlikely to get a scratch or bite and should you have to touch the bat while trying to contain it, you are ready to do so.

• If possible try to contain the bat the same way you would catch a spider. Place the box over the bat and slide a piece of card underneath. If this is not possible, cover the bat with a soft cloth, scoop it up and place the bat and the cloth straight into the box. (see Jenny Clark video at the bottom of this page)
• Ensure there is a small milk bottle cap with a few drops of water added in the box. The bat can smell the water which helps it to calm down, de-stress and help itself to a drink.
• Place the lid on the box and ensure the box is secure
• Keep the bat indoors somewhere dark and quiet, an airing cupboard or similar is ideal. Then call us Surrey Bat Rescue - 07910108525 or the National Bat Helpline - 0345 1300 228

Wearing gloves when trying to contain a bat should hopefully prevent this from happening, however;

• Wash the wound immediately for at least 5 minutes. The use of an alcohol based cleaner or other disinfectant is also recommended.
• Seek immediate medical advice from your GP and you can also call NHS Direct on 111.

The risk of catching anything from a bat in the UK is very small, however, a small number of bats in the UK have been found to carry rabies viruses called European Bat Lyssaviruses (EBLV-1 and EBLV-2)

The latest statistics published on the BCT website show that over 13,000 bats have been tested for the viruses since 1986. A small number of bats (less than 40) have been found with EBLV.

There is also no evididence that bats in the UK carry any coronoviruses that can be passed to humans. However, it is not known yet if humans can pass the Covid-19 virus to wild animals. So, for the bat's protection, it is recommended that face coverings are worn when containing a bat.

Further information on Bats and Rabies and other diseases within the UK can be found on the BCT website by following this link

https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/bats-and-disease/bats-and-disease-in-the-uk/bats-and-rabies-faqs