Wildlife Rehabilitation

If you have a BAT in your house:

In the summer 

If you can, isolate the room the bat is in by closing doors to the rest of the building. Open a window and leave the room making sure all pets are out of the room. Bats sleep during the day and fly in the evening . If you find the bat hanging somewhere in the room during the day and do not wish to wait until evening you can, wearing gloves, gently cover the bat with a small cloth, pick up the bat and take it outside and place it on a vertical surface like a tree trunk as high as you can reach.  NEVER handle a bat with bare hands, both for your protection and for the safety of the bat.  

Most bats in MA have  some difficulty taking off from a horizontal surface like on the ground, if you find a bat on the floor attempting to fly but not getting off the ground, it does not mean it has an injury. However, if you suspect an injury or the bat looks excessively thin please call us so we can examine the bat first. Bats that are found in a room with a sleeping person, an unattended child, or any person who can not reliably report if they have had contact with the bat should be tested for rabies. Please call your local Animal Control Officer or your town's Board of Health for how to get the bat tested. You can also call the State Rabies Lab for instructions 617-983-6385. If you have any question regarding  your dog or cat, or any other pet mammal, that could have had contact with the bat please consult your veterinarian about a rabies booster.  You should all the State Epidemiologist't office for instructions  617-983-6800. 

In the winter

Bats cannot be released outdoors. We take any bat found in the winter and will care for it for the rest of the season until it can be released back into the wild.  If you find a bat, please call 413-768-8928.

Bats that are found in a room with a sleeping person, an unattended young child, or any person who can not reliably report if they have had contact with the bat should be tested for rabies. Please call your local Animal Control Officer or your town's Board of Health for how to get the bat tested. You can also call the State Rabies Lab for instructions 617-983-6385.

If you have any question concerning possible  bat contact with your dog or cat, or any other pet mammal,  please consult your veterinarian about a rabies booster. You should call the state Epidemiologist's office 617-983-6800. We are happy to consult with you if you have any questions.

If you find an injured or a grounded bat that seems debilitated please carefully contain the bat in a small container that has a few small air holes. The best container for a bat is a small box with a secure lid. A plastic container works well, even a clean quart size yogurt container. If you use a box, tape it shut making certain that the bat cannot come in contact with the adhesive. Bats can fit through a 1/4 in. gap. Be cautious of not catching delicate toes or wing tips in the lid when you close the container. The bat will appreciate a piece on non- terry cloth fabric or even a paper towel to hold onto inside the box. It is prudent to wear gloves and please, NEVER handle a bat with bare hands, both for your protection and for the safety of the bat.   Please call us as soon as possible at 413-768-8928.

If the bat is a pup, i.e. has little fur, please keep the pup warm and dry and covered by placing a clean, non-terry piece of fabric inside the box that will help the pup to feel safe and give it something to hide in. Adding a heat source to the container can save lives as long as it is not too hot, and it allows the pup to move away from the heat if it wants to. You can put warm water in a soda bottle but it must be secured so that it cannot roll onto the pup and the water temperature will have to be monitored because the water  will cool down and need replacing. Remember bats can squeeze through a 1/4 inch gap so the container must have a secure lid! Call us at 413-768-8928 ASAP and we will further advise you as to what steps to take if there is a delay in getting the pup to us.

DONATIONS

Wildlife rehabilitators are not compensated by either the state or federal government for the considerable expense that is incurred caring for wildlife. This includes all the caging, the physical space, the medications and supplies, or any other operating expenses. It costs us thousands of dollars to provide care for all the animals we take in each year.

We depend on support from the general public and from fund raising that we must do in order to continue caring for wildlife. Can you help us help them?  If you can make a tax deductible donation please visit our online store  and scroll to the end for an option to make a donation via Paypal or send a check to CCCWR 107 Hillman Rd. Colrain, MA 01340

Thank you for caring for wildlife.