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Orphaned Red Bats |
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  Red bats roost in trees and have beautiful fur the color of
autumn leaves. Unlike other bat species, red bats typically have
more than one baby a year. Babies are born during the summer.
Unfortunately, because they roost in trees, they are prone to being
attacked by birds such as blue jays and crows. When attacked, a
mother red bat tries to gather up all of her babies at one time in
order to fly them to safety. The combined weight of the babies is
too heavy to allow the mother to fly very well, so they often become
grounded. Mother red bats frequently stay with their young instead
of flying to safety for themselves, using their bodies to shield
their babies from danger.Unfortunately, these mothers often succumb
to heat or are attacked by predators and do not survive.
Each
summer Bat World cares for up to 50 red bat orphans. Puppy formula
is always used to feed baby bats. Dehydration must also be treated
or the pups will not survive. A glass medicine dropper is used to
feed the babies. A small drop of warm milk is placed onto the
pups lips to encourage it to lap. After it begins to lap warm
formula is dispensed, a drop at a time, until the pups tummy
is rounded. It is extremely important to keep red bat pups clean
during the feeding process as dried milk on their fur can easily
result in an infection. The pups are checked throughout the day and
they are fed again as soon as their tummies become flat. |
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 After
the pups have grown adult teeth they are introduced to live
mealworms, which they soon grow to love. Each bat will eat up to 30
mealworms twice a day. At six to eight weeks of age they begin
flapping their wings, readying themselves to fly. At that time they
are moved into a large flight cage at our wild sanctuary, where they
hone their flight skills and learn to forage for insects on their
own. This process can take up to two more weeks. During this time
the pups are checked twice a day and offered mealworms. Once the
pups exhibit the survival skills necessary to live on their own they
are released back into the wild. |
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NOTE:
To sponsor the Orphaned Reds through the Adopt Me! button, please enter
the appropriate amount (see list below). If
the Adopt-a-Bat is a gift or a school sponsorship, please remember
to include the name you want listed on the adoption certificate.
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New members & gift adoptions - $35.00
International new members & gift adoptions - $38.00
Existing members & school/class adoptions - $25.00 |
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To sponsor the Orphaned Reds by fax or mail, go to our
Adopt-a-Bat/Membership
form.
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Please allow up to two weeks for delivery of your sponsorship package. RUSH orders are
available (at no extra handling charge) by calling 940-325-3404 (please leave a message;
calls are returned as promptly as possible).
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Please see our privacy policy on safeguarding your
information.
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Back to Adopt-A-Bat
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