Finding Baby or Injured Bats in the Wild
It can be distressing when a bat is discovered in a living space. Bats are nocturnal, but they may be seen during the day especially during the early morning and evening. Unless the bat appears injured or sick (no fear of humans, it’s aggressive or agitated) you should leave it alone.
If the bat shows is fearful and has signs of impairment and is aggressive; please keep your distance and call Pinellas County Animal Control.
Did you find a bat on the ground? The bat may be sick (not rabid) or temporarily stunned from flying into a window, to cold to fly or grounded. Bats are not aggressive, but they may bite if handled or provoked. If you are willing to move the bat safely, please wear proper safety equipment like gloves and then cover the bat with a small box. Place a piece of cardboard between the cover and the ground and then place the bat onto higher ground like a wall or tree branch.
The mother bat may have also dropped or orphaned a baby bat. Please contact our wildlife team for further assistance.
Bitten by a bat? It’s possible your pet could’ve been bitten by a bat in the yard. It’s best to locate the bat and properly wear gloves to confine the bat by placing it in a box or plastic container (with a few holes for oxygen). Contact SPCA Tampa Bay and/or your veterinarian for assistance. The bat should be tested for rabies testing.
If you were bitten by a bat carry out the same instructions as above but also call your medical provider for assistance.
A bat accidentally flew into my house… now what? If a bat flew into your home and it’s not flying it could be hiding where it can hang easily. Check the curtains or areas like a closet where it could hang. If the bat is located please wear safety or heavy gloves to capture the bat with a box and release it outside in a tree or higher wall. (Instructions are in the first column) Avoid direct contact with the bite and do get bitten.
If the bat is flying around your house, do not be alarmed and don’t panic. The bat is not trying to attack it’s just trying to fly. Try to move the bat into a room with an open window or exterior door. The flying bat will locate the opening by echolocation and leave.
After both situations above you need to find out if there is a colony of bats located next to your home. Contact a professional wildlife control company to help seal up your home so the bats do not find a point of entry.
You can also refer to batcon.org for bat house information.
