When a bat mother dies, often their young are still attached and will not survive without the right care. Bat carers play a vital role in not only retrieving suffering bats, but rehabilitating them until they can be released back into the wild.
When baby bats first enter rehabilitation it can be traumatising for them as they have just been separated from their mothers to which they have formed strong bonds.
The teats represent their mother’s nipple, and this makes them feel more comfortable, as does the security of the blankets which they are often snugly wrapped in.
Fast Fact(s):
- Bats are more closely related to humans and other primates than they are to rodents. Several studies indicate that the old world fruit bats and flying foxes may actually descend from early primates such as lemurs.
- Bats are very clean animals, and groom themselves almost constantly (when not eating or sleeping) to keep their fur soft and clean, like tiny cats.
- All mammals can contract rabies; however, even the less than 0.05% of bats that do normally bite only in self-defense and pose little threat to people who do not handle them.
Whether you love bats or not, consider donating! The Australian Bat Clinic spends a small fortune on food, laundry and medical equipment to keep these animals alive. Can you help? Go here.
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