What You Need To Know To Become A Bat Carer

What It Takes To Become A Bat Carer

Rescuing and rehabilitating bats is a rewarding and challenging branch of wildlife care.  It is however, a specialised field and should only be undertaken by trained and fully vaccinated persons.

So, what is it actually like to be a carer?

Well, it’s a lot of hard work and dedication, but it is also a lot of fun. And in the early days of a baby bat, a lot of sleepless nights (in fact not much different to caring for a human baby).

After a few weeks you will need an airer for your young baby bat…and then they progress to a gym!

You may also need to convert your house or part of your house into a baby bat home with a baby batty gym!

Watch one of our members, Jennifer Singfield, in hilarious action as a ‘Batty’ Carer in the video below – ‘Bat Country’.  

Join Bat Rescue Inc. As an Active Member

If you think you may like to learn more and become a Carer of bats, first of all you will have to join Bat Rescue Inc. (click for a Membership Form)

Our organisation has two levels of membership, a Support Member or an Active Member.

We are always pleased to welcome ALL new members into our organisation. But to become a Carer you will need an Active Membership.

As a registered wildlife carer organisation, Bat Rescue Inc. has to comply with Queensland Government regulations regarding caring for wildlife.

This includes the Code of Practice for Caring for Sick, Injured or Orphaned Protected Animals in Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992, DES.

This also includes rules set in Bat Rescue Inc. By-Laws (#9-18)

To Become A Carer And/Or Rescuer

  • Complicit with our Queensland Group Permit regulations, only an Active Member of Bat Rescue Inc. is allowed to care for bats. And he or she must be over the age of 18 yrs. 
  • Completion of our free training workshops on Basic Rescue & Rehabilitation and Caring for an Orphan Bat are mandatory. And you will have to be certified as having completed each satisfactorily. 
  • Experienced Carers are also be expected to attend a refresher course of both workshops at least every 2 years.

Our workshops and lectures are usually offered from September to November each year.

There are also many other teaching workshops offered from time to time. These have included Microbats Rescue and Rehabilitation, Advanced Rehabilitation, and Creche and Release.

And in recent times of climate change, most importantly Heat Stress Events & Monitoring of Camps.

Once A Member

  • A friendly network of people will be introduced to you.
  • There are opportunities to become involved in other bat-related activities, including conservation and educational projects. Involvement in such activities helps further the understanding of bats in our community.
  • Rescues of adult Flying-foxes can take place any time during the year.
  • Rescuers and Carers are at their busiest between September and December. This is when most rescues are performed. Baby flying foxes are usually born in these months. These orphans are raised for release around February/March – creche beginning around mid-January.
  • A mentor will be assigned to assist you and invite you to accompany more experienced Carers on rescues.
  • You will have access to equipment to borrow in your first year of caring and/or rescuing, if you need it.

What does it cost?

All Bat Rescue wildlife carers are volunteers, with costs for vaccinations, equipment, food, medications and transport usually paid for out of personal funds. 

However, Bat Rescue Inc. actively fundraises in order to try and subsidise some of the costs for our members. In addition where possible, equipment may also be loaned.

Costs may include:

  • Prior to handling bats, all carers need to be vaccinated against Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV). This involves a course of 3 anti-rabies vaccines at a cost of around $330. This can be arranged through your GP and rebates for some of the cost may be claimed through certain Health Funds. 
  • Every 2 years (or earlier if required) Bat Rescue Inc. arranges for each Active Member’s antibody levels to be tested. This is to ensure immunity is maintained above the minimum recommended level. Booster vaccinations will be required at 2 yearly intervals. Or earlier if your immune status levels drop below an adequate level.
  • There is also a fee payable by Carers when their bats go to creche for release. This money covers the cost of fruit while the animal is housed with other hand-reared youngsters. These are also learning to fly and socialise with the other bats prior to release. 
  • The cost for food can vary according to our ability to source well priced bulk purchase of fruit and high protein supplement powder. It also depends on the amount of funds available and the number of bats in care (ref. By-Laws #29-31, rev.16/2019).
  • But where possible Bat Rescue Inc. will always try to subsidise carer expenses. 

“And don’t forget to HAVE FUN!”