Please Share This to Save Our Bats!

This time of year is a dangerous one for bats because the increased insect activity results in people using sticky traps and flypaper. Bats caught on flypaper are covered by the glue as they struggle to free themselves. They can easily fracture their very small bones and tear off skin trying to pull themselves away. Removing the glue takes weeks of rehabilitation, medication and antibiotics (the solvents in the glue are toxic and can destroy the digestive lining), not to mention the additional weeks to a month of flight conditioning to assure the flight strength to survive after release. This is a complicated and tricky process that can't be done without training, veterinary support, and proper facilities. Bats can't handle strong shampoos or chemicals that would remove the glue faster, so it is a very slow process. Bat rehabilitation in Oregon is currently prohibited, so if a bat gets stuck on flypaper, we can only euthanize it, or it will starve. Every year we see bats die needlessly. If you must use sticky traps or flypaper, please encase them completely in tubes made of 1/4" wire so that the insects get trapped but not bats and birds. Struggling insects are attractive to bats and some birds, and these devices act as bait for them. Sticky traps for mice will also capture chipmunks. There are many safer ways to deal with pests that will help protect our wildlife. If you need advice, please message or call us, or if out of our area any Wildlife Rescue group, for help. The bat in the 2016 photo below was in its second week of treatment, which is done 4-5 times daily, and you can see how much glue there still was left to get off of him. He was released after 2 months of rehabilitation. 0 Comments