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I've found a microbat

Microbats are great mosquito hunters and they are great to have around! But they can get themselves into a pickle (especially the juveniles who do not fly very well) and need our help. If you find a microbat, please call immediately on 0414 717 374, option 5 then option 1. There’s always a microbat carer available for rescue! In the meantime, you can help by following these simple steps:

If the microbat is on the ground

It is likely that there is something wrong with it. Please place a cloth and shoe box or container over it. Don’t be tempted to peek as some species can fly off from rest or run very fast on the ground.

Hanging on an external wall, window or door

If it is tucked up high in corner of a patio or carport it will most likely fly out the next night. Leave it alone. If it is low, it's more likely to be injured or unwell.

  • Take a photo if possible
  • Switch off the patio fan
  • Keep children and animals away from the area

Microbat is inside your house

If you see the bat fly into the house at night, you can try and encourage it out by:

  •  Switching off ceiling fans
  •  Switching off lights inside
  •  Closing doors to other rooms
  •  Opening external doors and windows
  •  Keep children and animals away from the area

If you find a bat inside your house, there is a possibility it may have been trapped inside longer than 24 hours, in which case it will have to come into care.

  • Switch off all ceiling fans
  • Close all doors to other rooms
  • Keep children and animals away from the area
  • Watch that it doesn’t move from where it's roosting

Microbat is in or hanging on the side of your pool

Microbats can swim quite well but have difficulty climbing out of pools. You will often find them on pool noodles or hose.

  • Scoop the microbat out of the pool with a pool net
  • Cover it with cloth and box or container

Microbat brought in by your cat

Unfortunately, cat attacks are a major cause of death in microbats, from injury, infection, and stress.

  • Cover with cloth and box or container
  • Switch off ceiling fans
  • Close doors to other rooms
  • Keep children and animals away from the area

Caught in flypaper

Please leave the bat on the flypaper till rescuer arrives to avoid causing more damage.

A very small number of microbats carry the Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) and we advise unvaccinated members of the public not to try to catch or handle any bats. All our rescuers are vaccinated, trained to handle microbats safely and available 24 hours a day for advice and rescue. Bats are NOT A RISK to people if NOT HANDLED.