The fruit bats (Grey-headed Flying-foxes) are back in full flight just in time for Saturday Oct 31, the scariest night of the year – Halloween.
No, you won’t turn into a vampire if one of these furry critters manages to bite or scratch you, but there are good reasons why you shouldn’t touch a bat if you find one.
We caught up with our friend Sue at Bat Rescue SA Inc for some tips on what to do if you find a fruit bat on your property
What is the first thing you should do if you find a fruit bat in your yard?
If you see a bat in your backyard, on its own during the day, there’s a good chance something is wrong with it. Bats are nocturnal and also live in colonies, so if they’re out on their own in broad daylight, something is probably amiss. If it’s on the ground then it’s at risk from predators, so the first thing to do is to lock away your cats and dogs. Avoid touching the bat and, if it’s daytime, find something like a washing basket to put over the top of it until help arrives. This will contain the bat and protect it from the sun. From here you’ll need to call in some expert help, so phone Bat Rescue SA on
