Bat World Milwaukee

Bat World Milwaukee was established in 2004. Its purpose is to provide bat rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation in the Milwaukee area. Wisconsin is home to  seven of the many North American insectivorous bat species:

Eptesicus fuscus (Big Brown bat)
One of the most common Wisconsin bats, commonly found in human dwellings, highly intelligent and adaptable to both wild and urban environments, capable of eating up to 3000 insects in one evening.   

Lasiurus cinereus (Hoary Bat)
The largest of Wisconsin’s bats, more frequently encountered during spring and fall migration, with a distinctive coloring of ocher, black, and brown graced by a frosted top coat giving a grizzled appearance.   

Lasiurus borealis (Eastern Red Bat)
Typically roosting by day in deciduous trees, this interesting bat hangs by one foot while at rest, with a fully furred tail membrane wrapped around its belly, resembling a leaf.   

Lasionycteris noctivagans (Silver Haired Bat)
A smallish bat, yet striking in appearance with a black face and under coat, and frosted fur along the back, Silver Haired bats often roost under the loose bark of pine and other trees on the margins of forested land.   

Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Bat)
Common to caves and barns, Little Brown Bats live colonially, forming large nursery groupings of 50 – 3000 bats.  Typically these individuals are very loyal to their territory and home roost, and choose winter hibernaculums locally, often in abandoned mines or caves.   

Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long Eared Bat
Less common than its related cousin the Little Brown, Long Eared Myotis can be seen foraging for food over small ponds and other bodies of water, at the verges of forested land.   

Pipistrellus subflavus (Eastern Pipistrelle)
These individuals are the smallest of Wisconsin’s bats, often weighing in at 3-5 grams.  Slow fliers, these tiny bats prey on mosquito sized insects nightly during the spring summer and early fall.     

Common Bat Facts     

~Bats are NOT aggressive animals, and will try to avoid humans when possible.    

~Bats do NOT get tangled in hair.     

~Bats are NOT rodents.     

~Bats ARE the world’s only true flighted mammals.     

~Most species of bats have only one or two offspring annually.     

~Bats are wild animals, and will bite to defend themselves if handle  NO BARE HANDS if attempting to rescue any wild animal.

Gallery photographs by Jennifer Lyons

If you have found a bat:  please remember: NO BARE HANDS!  Although only a small percentage of bats are infected with the rabies virus, the Center for Disease Control recommends that if a bat is found in a room or in proximity to anyone unable to confirm that there has been no contact with the bat, such as an infant, a mentally handicapped person, someone intoxicated or unconscious, the family physician and the local health department should be notified immediately.  In Milwaukee, the local Health Department can be contacted at 414-286-3521.  The Wisconsin Humane Society can be contacted at 414-431-6137.

If it has been determined that no bare hand contact, no saliva exposure, has occurred, click on Found a Bat for further instructions on what to do and how to safely proceed.

For more information contact:Lisa Schlenker, Director
Bat World Milwauke
milwaukee@batworld.org

To humanely exclude bats from your home, please click on Links above to access contact information for humane bat exclusion professionals.

If you are a licensed rehabilitator in Wisconsin, and are seeking more information on the specific needs and requirements of bats, please contact me at 414-744-1270 to arrange an individual session. I will be happy to introduce you to information on basic care, handling, caging, and nutrition necessary for the rehabilitation of insectivorous bats.  If you are interested in extensive training to rehabilitate bats, please consider Bat World Sanctuary’s Boot Camp training program for continuing education on meeting the rehab needs of these fascinating mammals.

If you are interested in educational programs for schools, community events, scout troops, etc, in the Wisconsin or upper Midwest area, please contact Bat Conservation of Wisconsin for more information on their programs featuring live bats.
                                       
For information contact:
Lisa Schlenker, Director
Bat World Milwaukee
414-744-1270
milwaukee@batworld.org

Lisa Schlenker, Director Bat World Milwaukee
Opera Properties Shop Manager, Freelance Scenic Designer, Bat Rehabilitator

Lisa has been a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in the state of Wisconsin since 1994, and has been working with Wisconsin’s insectivorous bats since 1998.  A member of Wisconsin Rehabilitators Association, National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, and International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, Lisa keeps up with advances in current wildlife rehab techniques and philosophies through these journals and continuing education opportunities.  Lisa is also a proud 2001 graduate of Bat World Sanctuary’s Boot Camp training program, an intensive week long immersion in bat rehabilitation techniques and orphan care and release conditioning.  This experience inspired her to become a Bat World volunteer, serving a term on the board of Directors and becoming a Bat World regional center.
 
For information contact:
Lisa Schlenker, Director
Bat World Milwaukee
414-744-1270
milwaukee@batworld.org

The following items are needed by Bat World Milwaukee:
 
*Gift certificates from UPCO will help to buy vitamin supplements and medical supplies.
      
*Donations of Mealworms, available from Sunshine Mealworms. Please be sure  to have them credit Bat World Milwaukee's account.

Please mail donations or items to:
Lisa Schlenker, Director
Bat World Milwaukee
2821 S. Logan Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207.

Contact Bat World Milwaukee at:
414-744-1270
milwaukee@batworld.org