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Rescue grounded Bat

  • 30-08-2019 9:30pm
    #1
    paul71
    Registered Users Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭


    Not sure if this is the right forum but will ask anyway.

    I went out into my garden this evening and found the cat playing with a a bat. If it was a mouse or rat I would not "bat" an eyelid but decided to try rescue this little guy. As I was putting the kids to bed I have simply but a plastic bucket over the bat and weighed it down with a stone to keep the cat away.

    I don't know and probably would not be able to tell myself anyway if the bat is injured. I dont want to let this little guy suffer if he is in pain after the cats attack but would prefer to try rescue him.

    Given that is now 9.30pm and wont get him to a vet or anyone who knows anything about bats or bat conservation, I am looking for advice on what I should do with him for the night.
    Or alternatively, would it be less cruel to simply let the cat finish him rather than make him suffer through whatever injuries he may already have through the night.


Comments

  • #2
    paul71
    Registered Users Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭paul71


    Not sure if this is the right forum but will ask anyway.

    I went out into my garden this evening and found the cat playing with a a bat. If it was a mouse or rat I would not "bat" an eyelid but decided to try rescue this little guy. As I was putting the kids to bed I have simply but a plastic bucket over the bat and weighed it down with a stone to keep the cat away.

    I don't know and probably would not be able to tell myself anyway if the bat is injured. I dont want to let this little guy suffer if he is in pain after the cats attack but would prefer to try rescue him.

    Given that is now 9.30pm and wont get him to a vet or anyone who knows anything about bats or bat conservation, I am looking for advice on what I should do with him for the night.
    Or alternatively, would it be less cruel to simply let the cat finish him rather than make him suffer through whatever injuries he may already have through the night.


  • #3
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,068 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    Read this as a start: https://www.batconservationireland.org/found-a-grounded-bat

    Do not under any circumstances give it back to the cat! Probably the cruellest thing you could do. Don't dispatch it yourself either - it's not your place to do that. Worst case scenario you can keep it sheltered and secure and get it to a vet or wildlife rehabilitator in the morning.


  • #4
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Let the cat finish him off???

    Release it if it seems uninjured - it should be fairly obvious. Put it somewhere safe outside, keep the cat inside.


  • #5
    Happy4all
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,089 ✭✭✭Happy4all


    paul71 wrote: »
    Not sure if this is the right forum but will ask anyway.

    I went out into my garden this evening and found the cat playing with a a bat. If it was a mouse or rat I would not "bat" an eyelid but decided to try rescue this little guy. As I was putting the kids to bed I have simply but a plastic bucket over the bat and weighed it down with a stone to keep the cat away.

    I don't know and probably would not be able to tell myself anyway if the bat is injured. I dont want to let this little guy suffer if he is in pain after the cats attack but would prefer to try rescue him.

    Given that is now 9.30pm and wont get him to a vet or anyone who knows anything about bats or bat conservation, I am looking for advice on what I should do with him for the night.
    Or alternatively, would it be less cruel to simply let the cat finish him rather than make him suffer through whatever injuries he may already have through the night.

    This week, for the first time ever, i woke up and found my cat with a dead bat:mad:

    never seen a bat around before.

    Paul with was in the northeast, are you in the same part of the country?


  • #6
    zoe 3619
    Registered Users Posts: 624 ✭✭✭zoe 3619


    Very much as Srameen said.
    Somewhere high up maybe,rather than ground level.


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  • #7
    paul71
    Registered Users Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭paul71


    No moralising please openyoureyes I could simply have ignored it. I have dispatched large animals myself in the past when suffering was beyond the acceptable bounds, I simply do not have the experience with small animals to make the judgement. I cannot get this guy to a vet for the next 11 hours and that borders on the period of time that I consider cruel.
    I am reluctant to wait that long unless someone here with experience advises me to do so, already went to that link before I posted here my concern is the 12 hours of internal injuries broken limbs ect that I would see on a horse or other large animal that I cannot see on him.


  • #8
    paul71
    Registered Users Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭paul71


    zoe 3619 wrote: »
    Very much as Srameen said.
    Somewhere high up maybe,rather than ground level.

    I have a dark unheated room in the house, the website address mentioned a ventilated shoebox. Should I provide a little sliced catfood and water or leave him without.


  • #9
    paul71
    Registered Users Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭paul71


    Happy4all wrote: »
    This week, for the first time ever, i woke up and found my cat with a dead bat:mad:

    never seen a bat around before.

    Paul with was in the northeast, are you in the same part of the country?

    Yeah Trim, but I am accustomed to finding bats trapped and have released them before, they are common enough. I have just never rescued one from a cat before.


  • #10
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    paul71 wrote: »
    No moralising please openyoureyes I could simply have ignored it. I have dispatched large animals myself in the past when suffering was beyond the acceptable bounds, I simply do not have the experience with small animals to make the judgement. I cannot get this guy to a vet for the next 11 hours and that borders on the period of time that I consider cruel.
    I am reluctant to wait that long unless someone here with experience advises me to do so, already went to that link before I posted here my concern is the 12 hours of internal injuries broken limbs ect that I would see on a horse or other large animal that I cannot see on him.

    You are dealing with a legally protected species here, unfortunately.


  • #11
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    paul71 wrote: »
    I have a dark unheated room in the house, the website address mentioned a ventilated shoebox. Should I provide a little sliced catfood and water or leave him without.

    If it's well enough to eat it is probably well enough to release. What symptoms is it displaying?


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  • #12
    paul71
    Registered Users Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭paul71


    Thank you for the help and advice everyone. As soon as I lifted the bucket the bat flew away. The cat made a last ditch effort but to no avail, the little guy flew over the back wall of the garden.


  • #13
    Cherry Blossom
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 6,928 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cherry Blossom


    Hi OP,

    Ive moved your thread to Nature and Birdwatching. A link to the thread will stay in Animals and Pets so hopefully between the two forums someone can help.


  • #14
    paul71
    Registered Users Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭paul71


    Already resolved thank you. Bat flew away once I lifted the bucket.


  • #15
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    paul71 wrote: »
    Thank you for the help and advice everyone. As soon as I lifted the bucket the bat flew away. The cat made a last ditch effort but to no avail, the little guy flew over the back wall of the garden.

    Not being smart but why was the cat anywhere in the vicinity when releasing the bat?


  • #16
    paul71
    Registered Users Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭paul71


    Because the cat is semi feral and extremely difficult to catch, I suppose I could have left the bat under the bucket all night.


  • #17
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,068 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    paul71 wrote: »
    No moralising please openyoureyes I could simply have ignored it..

    I wasn't moralising, I was telling you that giving it to the cat wouldn't have given it a swift death but rather a prolonged death - which you obviously didn't want.

    If I was moralising I'd tell you to lock up your cat and stop it killing wildlife!


  • #18
    Sheepdish1
    Registered Users Posts: 618 ✭✭✭Sheepdish1


    Just for future references there is an excellent website called Irish wildlife matters that has advice if someone finds injured wildlife.

    There is also a wildlife organisation called Kildare Animal Foundation (Wildlife Unit) that has a network of volunteers across Ireland and they also offer advice over the phone too :)


This discussion has been closed.
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