The eastern red pups are growing up fast!  Is it just us, or do they look like happy little bats?

Growing up fast!

This eastern red pup is one of the four pups that Laurie rescued.  He was found with his mum on the ground near their house. They would all have died without her taking time from her busy day to care for this family in need. Thanks so much Laurie!

Here one of the boys catches a moth in his tail membrane. They are growing up and going from little fluff balls to bad-ass bug killing predators.

This eastern red pup is working on her flight skills, hoping to become as accomplished as the mum in the background.
Many pups at this time of year simply flutter-putter around in a straight line as they circle the cage.
They need to emulate the adults amazing aerodynamics to successfully avoid predators upon release.

The Lasiurine bats, including this eastern red bat female, use their furry tail as a blanket, poncho, and cloaking device to keep warm, dry, and hidden while they hang from the foliage.  The foot is just big enough to wrap around the stem of a leaf, and they’ll tuck under leaves to keep cool and hide from birds.  They hide their wings and head as they curl up into that long tail, and, hanging from one foot, look like nothing more than a fuzzy ball on a stem, a dead leaf, or a pinecone.
As such, they are bat buds, sleeping all day then blooming at dark to transform into voracious predators of night flying insects.
This beauty is a juvenile, almost full-sized, soon to be released into the wild. We know her from her white mark on the ear, designating her as our 99th intake this year back on June 23rd.  We’ve taken in 35 more in the last few weeks, making designing unique marks a challenge!

A lovely Cave myotis (Myotis velifer) – soon to be released!

Andrea found Frito in an open stairwell, hiding from the grackles that were stalking him like a pack of velociraptors.
She called us and watched over him until we arrived, saving him from a tragic end.
He was not injured, just a little disoriented and is eating and flying well in the aviary.
Soon to be released.  Nice work Andrea!

These Eastern red bat pups find their mum each morning, even though only two are still nursing. Orphan Michelle on top right has adopted the family!
In the wild, when pups start wrestling , as pups will, birds (especially grackles and bluejays) take notice and attack them.  The mum is forced to fly off with all those heavy pups clinging to her. People  find the exhausted mum and her pups in a ball and bring them to us.  We give the pups a chance grow into self-sufficient young adults, hunting and drinking on the wing, before release, usually with a few weeks. What a privilege to get to share a bond with these amazing creatures, before they resume their wild and free lives!

Love this link from Bat Conservation Trust about How to Contain a Bat.
But here in Central Texas, call our Austin Bat Refuge Hotline at 512-695-4116 or 512-799-8847

http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/containingabat.html

Northern yellow female pup on left and a Southern yellow male pup on the right.
When full grown, the Northern yellow bat will be twice the size of the Southern.
When they are pups, the size is the same, but the color and texture of the fur distinguishes them.
The Northerns are sleeker and more blonde-colored.  The Southerns are woolier and more olive-colored.

Catching prey is only half the battle! Bats still have to curl & kick to subdue their catch while flying. This eastern red male still needs to refine his technique!