Bat House Forum

[duckytired]

Hi guys...I need help, or reassurance anyway. Sunday morning I woke up to a Seminole bat hanging from a screen on my back porch. I am in South East Texas and it's getting very hot here (109 Saturday). I contacted on of the Biology Professors at SHSU and he told me what kind of bat he thought it was, and some of the habits (solitary, bug eater, year round/non-hibernator, and that they live in the piney woods around my area). Further research turned up they love Spanish Moss, but not much more is known about them. Being solitary my professor told me it was unlikely he's a candidate for the fungal infection that's killing bats further north, and not really likely for rabies due to it's diet and other habits. My concern, is he hasn't left, and I don't believe he has moved. I have been told he might have just gotten exhausted Saturday night and needed to rest (no bugs, no water....severe drought) and once he got that he would probably go back to the oak in my yard. He appeared (could have been shadows with the light) to have moved his head last night when my daughter and I took a look at him, but that is it. Do you think he is sick, or might be dead? The perch he has chosen is in direct sunlight for 12 hours + a day (maybe a bit of shade from the overhang). I have water, nectar, and bird food out (they seem to attract some insects), but I don't think he is flying out to get any of it. Should I leave him alone? I am not nervous about him, I just don't want him hurt or needlessly suffering. Anyone with any ideas?

Thanks
Erica

[Charles Parker]

not sure why he would do that but the fungal thing is wrong relating to him being solitary. The fungus cannot survive in the warm temperatures of the south.
Kinda wierd he is doing that, he probably is sick but he looks thick and healthy to me! Time will tell.

[duckytired]

Thanks Charles for the reply. I am thinking he came down out of the trees and moss to die. He died sometime in the past two days. I am thinking last night, since the ants just found him today. It was kind of sad. I got pretty attached to seeing him there in only a couple of days. He was such a pretty little guy.

Erica

[Charles Parker]

I took a bat like this one time while he was still slightly soft and stretched out his wings and left him in the sun away from ants and what I got was an impressive species sample that I was able to use to show people safely what one looks like including its teeth. Nature took its course, but others could at least benefit from it. I loaned it to a school teacher who never returned it but I guess it has served its life out well even after it died!

[Terry Lobdell]

Great picture! I also thought he looked healthy based on the photo.........

[duckytired]

Thanks Charles and Terry. My daughter buried him today when she got home from school. He was beautiful. I only wish I could have seen him in a healthy state, what an impressive bat he must have been. Now I only hope to see more in their natural habitat. I think it's too soon for us both though. We grew pretty attached to him.

[Joe Spencer]

I was concerned the moment I saw your first post before scrolling down and realizing the outcome. Who knows old age, illness, dehydration? Based on the coat/fur it looks as if this could have been a healthy bat a few months ago. Hasn't there been a severe drought in your area the last two months or so? This could effect not only the availability of fresh water but a decrease in the insect population as well. Thanks for posting and trying....

[duckytired]

Yes Joe. It's been a VERY bad drought. People are afraid to walk their dogs around my area, some have had animals die. I keep my bird baths, feeders, and back yard plants full and healthy, but I can only do so much. It's sad. I figure he was probably a victim too. I will continue with the backyard haven. Thanks for all the helpful advice guys.

[Bats3]

Great pic!