Halloween bats fly again after rehabilitation by the RSPCA
Last updated 11/1/2011 12:22:07 PM
Halloween bats fly again after rehabilitation by the RSPCA
Bats rehabilitated by the RSPCA are able to spread their wings for Hallowe'en - thanks to be a bit of tender loving care.
A bat carer based at one of the organisation's wildlife centres found that even the most dramatic of tears down the wing can heal themselves with the right approach.
Veterinary nurse Sarah Goodwin from the Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire explained the usual veterinary technique of stitching or gluing such tears together can cause issues with the bats removing stitches or glue when grooming.
Sarah instead decided to care for bats which came into her care with wing injuries by keeping them warm giving them antibiotics feeding them vitamin and mineral-rich food restricting their flight giving them time to rest and heal. In nearly all cases she found that the wings healed back together of their own accord.
She said: "I just couldn't believe how fast the wings grew back together. It was amazing. All they needed was a bit of rest and care and their wing membranes healed all by themselves – ready for them to fly back safely into the wild."
The bats used in the RSPCA's 'Heal to Fly' project had been injured in various ways, including attacks from cats. Out of the nine bats with severe wing tears admitted to the wildlife centre over the past year, five have been returned to the wild. Two are still in the centre's care, but Sarah is hopeful that they can be returned to the wild soon.
On average it took around eight weeks for the healing process to work. Before they were released back to the wild, the bats were given increasing flight practise to build up their strength. Since they were all adults, it is hoped their chances of survival back in nature are equivalent to those that have not been injured.
"They already knew how to fly before they were injured and would not have lost this skill despite their time in captivity," Sarah said. "We are all really excited by the results so far. They will have far-reaching consequences to the way we and other bat carers care for bats and will give bats with such injuries a second chance."