Brown bat encounters can be exciting adventures. Join me as I share four up-close adventures that I have had with brown bats.

If you hadn’t noticed, I love all animals and believe that “Blessed are the merciful,” also applies to them. Consequently, I am always rescuing animals in need. Bats are no different. I am not afraid that they want to suck my blood, because I know that brown bats can eat more than 1000 mosquitoes in a night.

The First Brown Bat Adventure

In April of 2019, I was in a Home Depot walking along when I came upon a little brown bat lying on the concrete floor. The poor bat must have flown around until it was exhausted and fell to the floor. I wanted to help it, but I needed a safe way to pick it up. Since I didn’t have gloves, I  asked for a grocery bag and wrapped the bag around the bat.

On the way home, my husband drove as I held the bat against my abdomen. It escaped the bag and was on my shirt. Truthfully,  I was a bit nervous that I didn’t have gloves on. We are always reminded that bats can be carriers of rabies. I did not want to get bitten. 

When we arrived home, I asked my husband (at the time) to get gloves, and he came and got the bat off me. He carried it down to the water’s edge of the creek. Carefully, he released it right by the water so that it could drink, since it was dehydrated from being trapped in Home Depot. Suddenly, the bat came to life and began to swim toward a rock. I was ready with my camera and took the following pictures. Never did I expect to see a bat swim.

This second picture is a little blurred from the bat swimming so fast and I didn’t have an auto-focus lens.  The next picture is of the bat clinging to the rock. After it rested, it turned around and went back down to the water to drink to its heart’s content. Then, without a warning, it took off and flew away. We were so happy that we could help and have one more mosquito eater on our property.

Motorhome Bat Adventure

One day, I came home and was told by my husband told me that there was a brown bat in the motorhome. I helped him to chase it out.  Another time, I rescued a bat from my cats. There is a poor-quality video of me giving it water with an eyedropper, but I won’t put it on YouTube. I have found a number of dead bats in my house as victims of my cats.

Halloween Bat Adventure

I don’t celebrate Halloween because I know it to be a high holy day for Satan. Nevertheless, bats are associated with Halloween as if they will suck our blood. Brown bats don’t do that.

A few years ago, on Halloween day, I went to my shed and opened the door. To my great surprise, I was magically greeted by a brown bat hovering in front of my face. The bat was more surprised than me and flew off into some weeds. Actually, I thought at first, “How did this bat get in the shed and why did it meet me so fast at the door?”

Finally, I figured out that it must have been hanging from an old paper wasp nest under the eave just above the door. The door so rudely knocked the bat from its perch, and it was able to catch itself and managed to hover right in front of me. If it was you, would you have screamed?

Brown Bat Concussion

After the above story, I determined to always check the eaves before I opened the door. Sadly, after a few checks and finding nothing, I grew tired of looking. On February 10, 2022, I opened the door without checking, and a hapless brown bat was knocked in the head. It landed below and started crying loudly. I didn’t have my phone with me to video it, so I carefully scruffed it behind the neck and got my camera. Amazingly, the bat moved its wings as if in slow-motion flight. 

Outdoor Products Wood Bat House

The Heath Bat House can be mounted on a pole, or under the eaves of a house, garage, or barn approximately 12-15 ft. above the ground. This house is maintenance free and provides a welcoming habitat that will encourage brown bats to nest. Brown bats can consume 600 mosquitos in an hour, helping to naturally control the insect population in your backyard. Constructed of weather-resistant cedar.

Maybe the bat would fly if I put it on the ground. That didn’t go over too well, as the bat actually turned over on its back. I helped it back over, but it was so pathetic and unable to control its movements. I put it in my cat food bucket with a paper towel to cover the food. Then, I  placed it in the sun so that it could warm up. When my cats found the bucket, I brought it into my motorhome.

After about 30 minutes, I could hear the bat moving around in the bucket. That was a good sign. The bucket was taken outside and the lid was removed. It wasn’t long before the bat took off flying. It was a happy ending.

Watch the Video

I actually got some videos of this last adventure and made a one minute YouTube Shorts video out of the footage. It is my hope that you will enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed making it. Wildlife adventures are always fun and I have truly enjoyed my adventures with brown bats.

Conclusion

One of the greatest joys of homesteading is interacting with the wildlife. Watching brown bats come out at dusk to soar through the air and catch mosquitos is an amazing sight. Absolutely, they are one of  God’s most amazing creations. I look forward to many more adventures with them. 

To see more wildlife posts, click on this link.  Wildlife Category

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