A rare bat rescued from the surf on a Maine beach showed promising signs of recovery after arriving at a wildlife rehabilitation center weak and lethargic.
Here's what to know
According to Popular Science, the bat — a female Lasiurus borealis, or Eastern red bat — was discovered in distress in coastal water near a Maine beach and taken to the Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick for stabilization.
The bat seemed to make progress there, as illustrated by a social media post shared by the Center for Wildlife (@centerforwildlife).
Kristen Lamb, executive director of the center, told Popular Science the animal "was very lethargic upon admission" but became "feisty and active." Lamb added that the bat had been eating well and responded well to rehabilitation measures, "including fluid therapy, temperature regulation, and a specific bat habitat that allows her to mimic natural behaviors and reduces stress."
Eastern red bats are one of eight bat species found in southern Maine. They are considered tree bats, typically roosting alone in foliage instead of gathering in caves or large groups like many other species.
As pollinators and as predators of insects, bats are critical to ecosystem balance. They can also help control mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus or Eastern equine encephalitis, providing nearby communities with natural pest control that benefits both wild habitats and public health.
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What's being done?
Because red bats feed and drink while flying — catching insects in the air and dipping down for water without landing — those in rehabilitation must either be hand-fed mealworms or trained to eat and drink from a dish.
As Popular Science noted, the Center for Wildlife cares for up to 2,500 injured and orphaned wild animals each year from a 100-mile radius, and it operates without federal funding.
For this bat, the goal is not simply survival in captivity, but a safe release timed to her migration window and her ability to function normally in the wild.
"Red bats are migrating right now and we don't want her to miss her window," Lamb said. "At the same time, she is recovering from the shock of being submerged in the cold Atlantic and if we release her before she can do everything healthy red bats can do in the wild, she would succumb to predators, the elements, or starvation shortly after release."
Where can I learn more?
For more on bat rehabilitation and the pressures these animals face, these articles add context:
• At Toronto Wildlife Center, bats crowd feeding time alongside tube-fed opossums and recovering hawks.
• Officials have released a recovery plan for endangered long-nosed bats that pollinate desert plants.
• In Brazil, scientists warn pesticides may threaten bats and eventually create risks for humans.
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