Lisa 🦔 [Copy Moon Joy]Jun 6

Happy #Baturday from this eepy floof-bean! This is one of the two orphaned infant seminole bats currently in my care.

I haven’t been posting much, because orphaned bat season is pretty all-consuming. In my corner of the globe, it last from May through the end of summer. This is broken up into several waves, broadly by genus/family.

Thank you for the gentle nudges I’ve gotten that there is still a world outside of my wee belfry. 😅

May you all be as comfy as my tiny #BatsInBlankets.

[Disclaimer because someone is gonna @ me: Don’t try this at home. I’m licensed, have specialised training, and am thoroughly vaccinated. Also, bats would make terrible pets. Etc.]

Show threadLisa 🦔 [Copy Moon Joy]Jun 6

Another disclaimer:
Skipping gloves when handling our most tiny and delicate patients is a calculated risk. We’re vaccinated of course, and we vaccinate the patients as they come in, and we do a LOT of hand washing between tasks and patients.

Bats are extremely social creatures and require direct contact with their caregiver to support their wellbeing and development. Even species that tend to be solitary in adulthood, like the seminole bat in the OP, have very strong social bonds with their mother and siblings.

They do not imprint and will gladly return to the wild when they are stronger and old enough. 🦇🖤

Show threadFlop King Malus

@mycrowgirl you vaccinate the bats!!! i don't think i've heard of that being done really but it's good to hear some folks are doing it cause it really sounds like a no-brainer

do you vaccinate for other things too while you're at it?

this baby is sososososo good. good bub. may the little guy flourish.

Jun 7 at 5:02amWeb
Show threadLisa 🦔 [Copy Moon Joy]Jun 7

@malusdraco yeah! It’s not a costly vaccine to get either, which is amazing. I also always deworm any that are brought to me for care. They’ll end up getting worms again when they return to the wild, but at least they get a short-term benefit.

They’re not actually prone to a lot of illnesses. Bats have shockingly robust immune systems and some of the fastest healing times of any mammal!