Baby pipistrelle bat

[Moriarty]

fell out of our verandah roof a few days ago. We tried to put it back but the crack to the nest is too small and it's in a difficult place. Yesterday we thought it was dead and left it but I saw it move this morning, so we took it in and gave it some water. The warmth of Mr. Moriarty's hand revived it a bit and it was quite lively, crawling all over the place. We've put it in a box, in the dark, in the warm ... what do you feed a baby bat? It can't go back in the nest and we'd like to give it a chance of life. Have asked around here about bat sanctuaries but no reply and I suspect there aren't any in this rural area.

So, ideas please! Tips, advice, what to feed it, how to keep it alive ...

Thanks for any replies.

[subruss]

You have got a problem, can you not leave it as near to the hole as possible and hope mum feeds it, unlikly now tho as you have kept it away for a while.If you were in England you would be breaking the law. you need specialist advice. we have the bat protection society, can not remember it proper name over here who would deal with it for you . good luck

[Moriarty]

Well I Rang the bat hospital on the Isle of Wight and they were really helpful; on their advice I'm feeding it goat milk (luckily live near a bio farm) and also tonight I shall try to place it on the wall near to the entrance to the roost; hopefully mummy and baby might get reunited. If, in the long run, it falls out again or isn't taken then I have some advice on rearing it (it's tiny, the size of a 10p or smaller!). Apparently bats don't reject babies if they've been handled, I couldn't leave it on the ground to be played with and eaten by my curious cats (and even more curious chickens). So, shall try tonight to put it back as near as I can (not easy). Meanwhile, BatBaby has had some milk, done a poo on my hand (thank you!) and seems to be having a sleep. Fingers crossed this works out.

[Moriarty]

So last night, just before dusk, I climbed the ladder and placed Babybat on the wall near the entrance to the roost. He clung on to the wall, facing the wrong direction. Then the bats in the roof started making clicking noises and suddenly Babybat got very excited and scuttled up the wall and straight into the roost, hopefully reuniting with mum! There was lots of scuffling and clicking and about fifteen minutes later, at dusk, over 50 pipistrelles flew out for their evening meal of munching mosquitoes down by the lake (why I love having the bats, as we don't have mozzies here). This morning, all seems well, nothing on the verandah floor apart from a generous pile of bat poo so hopefully all is well in teh roost. Thanks for all replies.

[ladyplumber]

Ooooh, I love a happy ending !

[subruss]

Well done nice to hear a happy ending