Birding/Bats

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Expert: - 7/13/2008


Question
About 1:00 PM my daughter found a bat beside a maple tree, this bat did not move, but it had two baby bats with it. I took a plastic bucket  and lid and placed them inside, the mother then hissed and clicked and spread its wings. I punched holes for air and placed them in the shade. We live in South Dakota, and I am not sure what type of bat this is, and if this is common, the babies are about 1 inch long. Should I release them in the shelter belt? Or should they be disposed of? possibly rabies? Sick? Someone said they are Ground Bats.

Answer
Well, my expetise is birds, not mammals, and bats are mammals, not birds, so I can't really say. Bats do carry rabies but that doesn't mean this is a rabid bat. I'd take them away and release them or call your local wildlife rehab center or animal control. And I have never heard of a ground bat

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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