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Found A Bat?

Bats require a different approach than any other wildlife you might encounter. Never touch a bat with bare hands — ever. Bats can carry rabies, and a bite or scratch can be so small it goes unnoticed.

Our team is here to guide you through the right steps for your specific situation.

If the bat has had contact with a person or pet, please call immediately.

Call 904-779-5569
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Found a Bat?

Stop — Read This Before You Do Anything

Bats are one of the most misunderstood and most important animals in our ecosystem — a single bat can eat thousands of insects in a single night. They also require a different approach than any other wildlife you might encounter. Please read all of the information below before taking any action.
How to help

Quick Steps to Help

Your first step is always the same: determine whether anyone or any pet has had direct contact with the bat. That single answer changes everything about how to proceed.

✓ No Human or Pet Contact

No contact? Contain it safely and call us.

If no person or pet has had direct contact with the bat, there is no emergency - but the bat still needs to be handled carefully. Never touch a bat with bare hands, even if it appears healthy.

🧤 Always use thick gloves, a folded towel, or a container to handle a bat. No exceptions - ever.
  1. Contain it carefully. Place the bat in a small box or container lined with a soft towel. Use thick gloves or a folded towel - no bare hands. Add a very small, shallow dish of water (a bottle cap works perfectly) but do not flood the box.
  2. Keep it warm, dark, and quiet. Place the box in a low-traffic area of your home. Bats are nocturnal - a grounded bat may simply need rest before it can fly again at dusk.
  3. Need to remove bats from your home? Exclusion is the only legal method in Florida - no poisons, no traps. Call us and we'll advise on timing.
🏛️ Florida Maternity Season: April 16 – August 14Exclusion from buildings is prohibited during this period while mothers are raising pups that cannot yet fly. Attempting exclusion during maternity season is illegal and can trap and kill entire colonies.
📞 (904) 779-5569
! Person or Pet Contact

Contact occurred? Act immediately — do not wait.

If any person or pet has had direct contact with this bat - including a bite, scratch, or skin contact - treat it as a medical emergency. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.

🚨A bat bite or scratch can be so small it goes unnoticed. If there is any possibility of contact, seek medical attention immediately.
  1. Seek medical attention immediately. Anyone with possible bat contact should contact their healthcare provider or emergency room right away. Do not wait for symptoms.
  2. For pet contact, call your veterinarian right away. Your vet will advise based on your pet's vaccination status.
    3. ⚠️Do not handle the bat with bare hands under any circumstances. Do not release it until you have spoken with your health department.
    📞 (904) 779-5569
Did You Know

Quick Bat Facts

A little context helps you make better decisions in the moment.

🌙 Essential Night Pollinators

Bats play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by pollinating plants and helping forests regenerate. Many plants rely on bats for pollination and seed dispersal, making them vital to environmental balance.

🌲 Natural Pest Contol

A single bat can eat hundreds to thousands of insects in just one night. By helping control mosquito and pest populations, bats provide a natural and environmentally friendly form of pest management.

👁️ Bats Are Not Blind

Contrary to popular belief, bats can see. Many species also use echolocation – a natural sonar system – to navigate and hunt for food in the dark with incredible precision.

🦇 Long Lifespans

For their size, bats can live surprisingly long lives. Some species can live more than 10 years in the wild, and certain bats have been known to live over 20 years when safe and healthy.

Your compassion makes healing possible

Every rescue and second chance begins with caring people like you. Your support helps provide medical care, safe rehabilitation, and the time wildlife needs to heal and return to the wild where they belong.

Make a Donation

Together, we can protect and care for the wildlife that shares our community.