The puppys are sending their support to Benn at Navy boot camp.

My First Wildlife Rescue

I received my first rescue request from Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation on February 11^th, one week after my training. The request was to rescue a “baby bat”. I accepted the task and called the contact person, James. He had found the bat on the floor in his downtown apartment. He said he did not want to leave the “baby bat” because of threat from his cat.

When I reached the location, downtown New Braunfels James was sitting in the front with the bat wrapped in a dish cloth. I came prepared with the equipment WRR required, a small pet carrier and gloves. I examined the bat. It was not a baby, but an adult pipistrelle. He seemed to be barely breathing. I guessed James cat had attached it and was not sure if it would survive the night. James offered the dish cloth. I placed the wrapped bat into the pet carrier. James was relieved and gave a $10 donation for WRR.

I began the 10 minute drive back to my house. Planning on watching the bat overnight and drive it to Kendalia in the morning, if he survived. About half way home I heard the familiar rattle of the pet carrier from the rear of my SUV. Assuming the carrier had merely “shifted” I thought nothing of it. Quickly it was followed by a faint “scratching” sound. I immediately turned down the radio to listen closer. Continuing to drive the “scratching” sound was getting louder and closer. My mind is now racing and I know the bat is loose in my truck. Within blocks of my house I still do not pull over. Then as I place my cell phone in its usual resting place, the cup holder between the front seats. There in the other cup holder, lit by the cell phone is the very much alive bat. In the commotion of rolling down all four windows and pulling into my drive way, I hear the “scratching” noise again.

It is dark, but after a quick inspection of my truck I assume the last noise I heard was the bat leaving thru the open window. I left the windows rolled down all night just to be sure. Saturday morning I drive to Seguin for a day of volunteer archaeological excavation. Again I leave my windows down.

Sunday evening my son and I leave church on Loop 337. The sun has just set. Then I feel something crawling quickly up my boot under my jean leg. I’m sure I screamed and pulled the truck into the shoulder in front of the high school. Throw open the door and just from the truck. A few stomps and kicks and the very upset bat falls to the ground. He is chirping and begins to crawl toward the road and traffic. I quickly find a piece of cardboard in my car and redirect him away from harm. He is quickly crawling on the ground. I use the cardboard to lift him up and gently toss him into the air. I am relieved to see him take flight.

My son later tells me he thought I had flipped out and had no clue what was going on until he saw the bat. My mother is reluctant to ride in my truck again. All in all, a successful wildlife rescue and release.