Going Batty for Our Local Bats!

Bats are incredible creatures. They are the only mammals capable of powered flight. They’ve adapted to numerous niches and environments and are essential in keeping insect populations in balance. An environment without bats can lead to ecological disaster. Locally, NorCal Bats, headed by Corky Quirk, is working to protect the 17 different species of bats native to Northern California, rescue injured bats and spread the word about the vital role bats play in the health of our ecosystem.

The origins of a bat-focused life

Corky’s fascination with the natural world began in childhood, starting with family camping trips and summer camp experiences throughout her teen years. Later, after her adopted family of children reached school age, nature drew her back. A newly opened position for Environmental Education in Davis was the perfect fit. While Corky taught mostly about birds and wetland habitats, a visiting expert taught about bats and Corky fell in love with the winged creatures. This love-at-first-flight story led to volunteering for a bat rescue. When the rescue owner fell ill, Corky swooped in and saved the project, using her external connections to keep it afloat and breathe new life into it. Thus began NorCal Bats.

Rescuing Bats and California’s Environment

NorCal Bats provides bat education, resources and wildlife rescue specializing in bats. “We get somewhere around 200 a year,” Corky says. Of course that’s not a bunch of new flappy pets. “The goal with rescue is to help those animals recover and return to the wild. But sometimes, we have a bat with an injury we can’t repair.” If approved by the State, these non-releasable bats move to an exhibiting permit and become ambassadors for their species. These am-bat-sadors travel to schools and events to remove some of the stigma about bats and teach people what makes them vital to the ecosystem.

All the bats native to the United States are insectivorous. Having these bug-eaters around means fewer pesticides on food. “When the bats are lost,” Corky says, “there’s human health implications due to the increase in pesticides.”

What to Know if You Encounter a Bat

Since bats are just about everywhere, you might someday see one up close. If one is trapped in your house or looks sick or lethargic, it’s good to know what to do. “People often don’t understand what’s normal and what’s not,” Corky says. “Maybe they open their picnic umbrella after the winter and they go, ‘Oh. A bat fell out. Is there something wrong with it?’ That’s probably a healthy bat.

Or people worry about a single bat roosting over their front door, a crevice or on the stucco outside. Unless it’s below head-height, it’s probably a perfectly healthy bat.” But there are clues when something isn’t right. “A bat on the ground or on a wall below head-height – usually there’s something wrong. It could be injured. It might be a first-year animal, isn’t good at hunting and it’s succumbing to nature. It could be sick.”

Corky’s Tips for Wild Bat Encounters

What do you do if you see a bat in rough shape? Corky suggests these steps:

1) “Don’t handle it bare-skinned. A sick bat is highly unlikely to attack. But if you handle it, it may bite.” (If one bites, it must be euthanized to check for rabies.) “Wear leather gloves good enough for rose thorns.”

2) “You can use a scoop, a shoebox (turn the box sideways and use the lid to scoop the bat inside) or empty takeout containers,” (breathable, of course). “An empty coffee cup with a lid also works. Make sure it’s sealed. Bats aren’t strong, but they’re little, so they can get out of the thumb holes of a shoebox, even if they’re injured.”

3) Once the bat is caught, call your local wildlife rescue. “Every county is going to have a rescue. Though not every county does bat rescues – they can refer you to a bat rescue.”

4) If you call a rescue, Corky says, “it’s best if you text a photo.” That way, they can evaluate for immediate needs before getting your beleaguered buddy in their helping hands.

5) If you find one in your home, turn the inside lights low, the outside lights up and open a door or window. “People think bats are afraid of the light, but they’re not. If you think about a bat living in a cave, it leaves by going into the light.” If you try to chase or scare the bat out, you’ll only terrify and confuse it.

Corky and NorCal Bats are ready to help when someone encounters a bat. “A lot of people call me and I’m happy to walk them through what’s normal and what’s not.” And since bats have only one baby per year, populations don’t recover quickly from hardship (if they recover at all). That’s why it’s important to reach out if one looks like it needs help. Visit norcalbats.org or 530-902-1918 for more information or to report a sick bat.