This season has been hard on bats .Many parts of the country have been inundated with juveniles in very poor conditio0n. We have had several that have been so badly malnourished we were unable to anything for them. There are , however, cases where the bat is making a good recovery.
Hedj and Kel. Photo Jo Rigby
This bat was handed into a vet in Bedford, who contacted Kel who has a real knack with poorly bats.
“after a couple of mealworms and 2 rather large yawns, baby bat decided my hand was a good place to snuggle down and roost in lol. Tired lil bat”
Photo Hedj Dollman
“baby bat fed and watered and groomed. As a thank you he raised he’s tail bone and pooped on me. Whilst I was doing this mission he quite happily posed for the camera. Tart. Please excuse the messy chin as he had goats milk with mashed mealworm round he’s chops and look bedraggled..So far he is making good progress and was soon munching away on mealworms.”
We are lucky that Hedj Dolman was able to take some great photos of him.
What attracted our attention was just how furry he was, and we did wonder if he was a Nathusiaus pipistrrelle. We have peered closely at his wings and far too closely at his penis and have decided he is probably a soprano pipistrelle. But we will have another look as he grows up.
Photo Hedj Dollman
When Bob and I went up the day before yesterday, the young male also showed us he is not far from flying. I think he must have heard Kel say he had shown now sign of trying to fly, and made a flap for freedom.
We posted pictures on the Bedfordshire Bat Group Facebook page and, before long ,one of our naughtier members had started adding speech bubbles.
Phot Hedj Dolan.