A bat should NEVER be handled by its wings during the course of examination,
Bats feel safe in a crevice so mimicking this with your hand can help the bat feel secure,
Placing a soft cloth over the bat’s head during handling and examination can calm the bat and avoid additional stress.
How to examine:
Observe the bat in its container before picking it up – how it moves, sits/hangs, any obvious injuries that can be seen, any staining in the urine and unusual droppings. This will minimise the stress of examination, Use a systematic approach to examination beginning with the head, examining both above and underneath the body,
Gently extend the wings downwards (as shown in the photo opposite),
Information on examining bats is given in BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties and in the Bat Rescue Manual.
Look for:
Fractures, holes, tears or bleeds in the membrane,
Foreign bodies,
Dullness of the membrane caused by dehydration or dust,
Ectoparasites,
Ulceration and/or stickiness or contamination of the membrane,
Ossification of the bones to help estimate age (in a growing bat, all, or part of, the fingers in the wing are cartilage whereas in an adult bat they are bone. Light, when shone through the wing, will transmit through the cartilage and it will appear clear to the observer). Please refer to the Bat Rescue Manual for more information,
Unusual or abnormal movement, for example, the bat constantly moves only to its left or its right,
Trauma to the eyes/ears/mouth, and/or other parts of the body,
Entanglement,
Condition of bat – e.g. pregnant, undernourished, etc.
A diagram showing a bat’s anatomical features (like the one shown here) should be used by rehabilitators as a
guide when examining a bat. This will further a rehabilitator’s understanding and highlight any abnormalities
which will need further attention.
