It is essential to be able to identify a baby or juvenile bat as soon as possible as treatment for these individuals will differ.
All UK bats are very small but a baby or juvenile will have no or little fur on its body.
Blow gently on the bat’s fur – if it does not part easily it is likely to be a young bat. The diagram here provides an
indication of a bat’s growth stages from newborn to fully grown adult.
If the bones are not yet ossified, please refer to the BSAVA Guidelines for further information.
If the bat is identified as a baby please refer to Baby bats for further information.
