What to do if you find a bat

If you find a bat has entered one of the rooms in your house, it is best to open all the windows and shut the door and the bat will very likely leave of its own accord. If the bat will not leave on its own, you can call the National Bat Helpline, or your local Natural England office to arrange for an experienced bat worker to visit you.

What to do if you find a grounded or injured bat

The most important initial care for the bat is to provide water and warmth.

You should place the bat in a shoe box or ice cream tub with air holes in.  If you need to handle the bat to get it in the box, you should wear gloves.

The box should be kept somewhere dark and warm, like an airing cupboard.

The most immediate problem for many injured bats is dehydration, so put a small shallow dish of water in the box.

If there are no injuries, you should try to release the bat on the next mild night.  Place the bat near to where you found it at dusk and see if it flies away.

If the bat is injured, or will not fly, please call UK Bat Helpline, they will be able to put you in touch with a local bat worker who can come and check on the bat and pass it to someone with experience of looking after injured bats if necessary.

UK Bat Helpline Tel: 0845 130 0228

Opening Hours
From October-April (non-peak season): Monday-Friday: 9am-5.30pm
From May-September BCT the Out of Hours Helpline is also available in the evenings and on weekends.

Please note, the out of hours helpline is run by volunteers and is for emergency calls only.

For more information see http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/help.html

Cambridgeshire Bat Group

Email: info@cambsbats.co.uk